The Right to Housing 101 -What it means, what it doesn’t, and what it looks like in the Canadian context.

This is the first legislation of its kind to implement the Canadian federal government’s commitment to the realization of the right to adequate housing under international human rights law and put in place novel mechanisms through which this right is to be realized through a new “rights-based approach.”

This paper breaks down the elements of a rights-based housing strategy as outlined in international human rights law—and offers an analysis of Canada’s current housing strategy according to these international standards.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) recognizes “the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions”.

The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) works for the advancement of human rights and justice in housing for low- income Ontarians through legal advice & representation, law reform, community organizing, training and education.