Canadian Centre for Housing Rights - CCHR

Canadian Centre for Housing Rights - CCHR Advancing the right to housing in Canada so that everyone has an adequate, accessible and affordable place to call home.

The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) was founded in 1987 as the only organization in Canada with a primary focus on promoting human rights in housing. Thirty-five years later, we continue to carry out our mandate through direct tenant support, public education, research, law reform, casework, test case litigation and using international human rights law and mechanisms. We advance the righ

t to housing by serving renters to help them stay housed, providing education and training about housing rights, and advancing rights-based housing policy through research, policy development, advocacy and litigation. Every year, we provide much needed supports to hundreds of renters facing eviction and human rights issues in their housing. We also provide education on housing law, human rights and eviction prevention to a variety of audiences, including vulnerable renters, housing providers and service providers. As we continue to serve clients to help them stay housed and educate housing providers about their responsibilities, we are also compiling research and data to ignite public action and encourage decision makers at municipal, provincial and national levels to implement the right to housing for all. This work includes engaging in strategic litigation as a means to advance rights-based housing policy where traditional avenues of policy advocacy may not be effective. The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights’ presence is expanding to all corners of the country through our partnerships at municipal, regional, provincial and national levels, as we work to build and nurture coalitions to advance the right to housing movement in Canada. Our work also extends beyond our national borders, and we continue supporting efforts to advance the right to housing at the international level, as we have for over three decades.

Last chance to add your voice.Our joint submission with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre calls for stronger action on a...
06/19/2026

Last chance to add your voice.

Our joint submission with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre calls for stronger action on accessible housing in Canada, including improved accessibility standards, home modification supports, stronger accountability, and better access to justice.

We're inviting organizations and individuals to endorse the submission before endorsements close on Sunday at 5:00 PM ET.

Add your voice today:
https://ow.ly/t4AL50ZeG9C

We're pleased to welcome Pouya Dabiran to the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights' Board of Directors.Pouya is a lawyer w...
06/19/2026

We're pleased to welcome Pouya Dabiran to the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights' Board of Directors.

Pouya is a lawyer whose work spans human rights, public and private law, domestic and international law, sustainable development, and Indigenous self-determination. Throughout his career, he has worked with and represented all three levels of government, litigated before all levels of court in Canada, and contributed to major public infrastructure projects. He brings a deep commitment to addressing some of today's most pressing challenges, including poverty reduction, affordable housing, and climate resilience.

Please join us in welcoming Pouya to CCHR!

Accessible housing is a human rights issue.Approximately 8 million people in Canada live with one or more disabilities, ...
06/15/2026

Accessible housing is a human rights issue.

Approximately 8 million people in Canada live with one or more disabilities, while Canada's population of older adults continues to grow. Yet accessible housing remains out of reach for far too many people.

Together with Sunnybrook Research Institute, CCHR has submitted recommendations to the National Housing Council Review Panel on the lack of accessible housing in Canada. We are now inviting individuals and organizations to add their voice in support of these recommendations.

Help strengthen the call for accessible, inclusive housing across Canada.

📢 Endorsements close Friday.

https://ow.ly/3Uxt50Zc0Tv

Last week, the CCHR team attended the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Ed...
06/12/2026

Last week, the CCHR team attended the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Edmonton.

Housing was front and centre in conversations throughout the conference. Across sessions, panel discussions, and conversations with municipal leaders, several themes emerged again and again: the need for more non-market housing, investments in infrastructure, stronger eviction prevention measures, and long-term solutions to homelessness.

One thing that stood out to us was how consistently these themes emerged across regions, political perspectives, and municipalities of all sizes.

We've rounded up a few of the key themes we heard, and why they matter!

Swipe through to learn more.

What happens when eviction becomes the default outcome?We're proud to see CCHR's Director of Policy, Research and Law Re...
06/09/2026

What happens when eviction becomes the default outcome?

We're proud to see CCHR's Director of Policy, Research and Law Reform, Margaret Flynn, featured as a co-author in the newly released book Evictions in Canada: The Impact of Evictions on Security of Tenure and the Right to Housing by Balanced Supply of Housing.

In their chapter, Sarah Buhler and Margaret Flynn explore eviction decision-making in Saskatchewan and raise important questions about proportionality, discretion, and eviction prevention.

The book brings together researchers from across Canada to better understand the impacts of evictions and what stronger protections for renters could look like.

Read the book: https://ow.ly/mTzj50Z9uKC


We're at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show this week in Edmonton!Municipa...
06/04/2026

We're at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show this week in Edmonton!

Municipalities are on the front lines of addressing housing challenges, and we're looking forward to connecting with local leaders from across the country about rights-based housing solutions, tenant support, education and training, and preserving affordable housing.

📍 Visit us at Booth 1013 from June 4–7 to meet the team, learn more about our work, and explore the resources and services we offer municipalities and housing providers.

See you there!

June is both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month. It's a time to celebrate the strength, contributions, an...
06/02/2026

June is both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month. It's a time to celebrate the strength, contributions, and leadership of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and to reflect on the barriers many continue to face in housing and beyond.

Looking for a place to start? We encourage people to learn from and support organizations working to advance the rights and wellbeing of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Throughout the month, we'll be highlighting partners whose work is helping strengthen communities and advance human rights.

Swipe through for a few meaningful ways to show your support this month. →



How can accessibility be embedded into housing and community design from the outset?As part of National AccessAbility We...
06/01/2026

How can accessibility be embedded into housing and community design from the outset?

As part of National AccessAbility Week, ULI Toronto and DIALOG are hosting a free discussion exploring accessibility as a key consideration in the future of real estate and the built environment.

From housing and healthcare to campuses and workplaces, the session will examine how accessibility is shaping design decisions and creating more inclusive spaces for everyone.

Register here - https://ow.ly/S1Al50Z6hbQ

A landmark ruling for housing rights in Canada.At CCHR, we are delighted to celebrate the Court’s decision in The Region...
05/27/2026

A landmark ruling for housing rights in Canada.

At CCHR, we are delighted to celebrate the Court’s decision in The Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. Persons Unknown and to be Ascertained - a significant step toward stronger rights protections and accountability for people experiencing homelessness in Canada.

We wanted to share a few excerpts from the decision that we believe deserve to be read, reflected on, and repeated widely.

Thank you to the people with lived experience, organizers, advocates and researchers whose work helped make this moment possible.

Read more from the National Right to Housing Network: https://ow.ly/IHUY50Z4Riw

CCHR is proud to stand alongside organizations, advocates, and academics across Canada in calling for stronger human rig...
05/22/2026

CCHR is proud to stand alongside organizations, advocates, and academics across Canada in calling for stronger human rights implementation and accountability at all levels of government.

The newly formed Civil Society Forum for Human Rights in Canada has released a joint statement urging governments to take concrete action to ensure human rights are not just commitments on paper, but realities people can experience in their daily lives.

Read the full statement: https://housingrightscanada.com/canadian-civil-society-organizations-unite-in-call-for-human-rights-action-at-ministers-forum/

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