As a tenant leader, advocating for tenant communities on the ground will require a fair knowledge of local and regional resources on housing rights. This toolbox provides a range of resources to support your leadership and advocacy work. You will find tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada, where to find assistance to protect your right to housing and online resources to engage with housing stakeholders, including your local and provincial governments.
Knowing your rights and informing your community
Tenant leaders will usually be the first point of contact for impacted communities – with tenants themselves but also politicians, developers, lawyers and housing service providers. A key aspect of your advocacy work will be information: knowing which laws and policies regulate housing and how to best navigate the housing system will go a long way in preparing your claims and providing support to fellow tenants.
Explore the Toolbox
Inside the toolbox you’ll find:
- A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
- Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
- Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Toolkit:
Resources:
Guides:
Resources in your province
Protecting your rights as a tenant
When dealing with landlord and tenant issues, it is helpful to quickly know where to turn to for legal information and support. Below you will find a list of legal resources.
Who can make decisions on your tenancy?
Where can you go for legal help and information?
- Legal Aid Alberta
- Pro Bono Law Alberta
- Centre for Public Legal Education
- Calgary Legal Guidance
- Women’s Centre of Calgary
- Student Legal Assistance
- Information for Landlords and Tenants
- 311 Calgary Bylaw Standards and Complaints
Working with other housing advocates
Collective action is a powerful way to claim your right to housing and that of your community: reaching out to grassroots organizations and community advocates will help you strengthen your advocacy work and amplify your claims. It also provides an opportunity to stay informed about local tenant initiatives that you can contribute to. You can also participate in municipal advisory committees or approach tenants and government officials sitting in these committees to represent your interests at City Council. Below is a list of some tenant advocacy groups. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and there may be other groups active in your communities.
Tenant advocacy groups
Advisory committees
Engaging with your government
To advocate to your municipal or provincial government, the links below will help you prepare your submissions and deputations.
Calgary City Council
Province of Alberta
Additional resources
The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) has an online repository of resources on the right to housing in Canada. Below are some key documents on the right to housing, rental housing and the rights of tenants.