The Housing Rights Advisory Committee focused on the province’s decision to end funding for Ontario’s remaining seven supervised consumption sites on June 13, 2026, after 10 sites were previously forced to close under the Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024. Members discussed the province’s planned replacement—28 “HEART hubs”—and emphasized that the model “explicitly excludes supervised consumption services,” which Chair Elizabeth McKisac said means “the immediate and acute needs of people at high risk of overdose will not be met through the heart hubs.” The committee also heard from the Federal Housing Advocate on barriers to adequate housing for women, gender-diverse people, and people with disabilities; reviewed problems in property standards enforcement and appeals; and received updates on co-operative housing development and acquisition efforts.

Topics Discussed

SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITES CLOSURE CRISIS: Committee members and deputants warned that the province’s transition away from supervised consumption services will leave a gap in overdose prevention. McKisac told the committee that while the province has announced 28 HEART hubs, “it explicitly excludes supervised consumption services.” A deputant who previously worked frontline before supervised consumption sites said, “the problem doesn’t go away. It simply gets transferred into other spaces,” adding: “all I know is that this will absolutely lead to death.” Another speaker argued the province is “not replacing any services at all,” saying, “we’re not seeing either supervised consumption services or treatment.” The committee voted to forward the chair’s report on the closures to Toronto Public Health and the Medical Officer of Health.

HOUSING BARRIERS FOR WOMEN AND GENDER-DIVERSE PEOPLE: Federal Housing Advocate Marie-José Houle presented on barriers faced by survivors of gender-based violence and other equity-deserving groups. A mother experiencing gender-based violence told the committee: “I just want somewhere stable where my kids can feel safe. But stability is always out of reach.” Committee discussion also addressed disability and accessibility barriers; one woman with a disability living in “so-called accessible housing” said: “I feel invisible in my own home.” Nicole Curado, speaking about safety and housing needs, told the committee: “We autistic women need that safe housing that is permanent housing of our own choosing,” and linked housing insecurity to heightened risk of intimate partner violence for autistic people.

PROPERTY STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT FAILURES: Presenters described how delays and appeals can prolong unsafe living conditions. One speaker summarized the stakes as: “Rights delays are rights denied,” adding that “every additional month without heat, clean water or safe living conditions deepens that harm.” Another deputant described the basic standard expected of housing: “Adequate housing must be safe and healthy… [and] equipped with essential services such as heat, clean water, sanitation.” Houle also highlighted the rent-payment dilemma for tenants in substandard units: “Tenants are expected to pay full price for housing that lacks adequate plumbing, clean water, functional heating or appliances… and at the same time, failure to pay full rent… can result in eviction for arrears.”

CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING EXPANSION: The Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) presented on development and expansion efforts and the demand for co-op housing. A CHFT representative said of waitlists: “95% of the time those wait lists are closed because they’re already long enough.” On demonstrated demand, a speaker noted: “We had 6,000 names in the lottery for 26 units.” Committee discussion also touched on acquisition as a faster path to non-market housing; one speaker said “the cheapest way to get housing is to use this existing stuff we have,” pointing to long timelines for new builds.

EVICTION PREVENTION AND BILL 60 IMPACTS: The committee discussed eviction as a key intervention point and the need to align supports with where people are most likely to fall into homelessness. Annie told the committee: “Eviction really is a key intervention point,” and added that “people are often facing eviction due to arrears linked to life events, job loss, illness, family emergencies, and increasingly the general affordability crisis.” Members discussed monitoring impacts of provincial legislative changes, including Bill 60, using city program data sources (including the Toronto Tenant Support Program and Rent Bank).

Motions

Passed: - Motion to forward the chair’s report on supervised consumption sites closure to Toronto Public Health and the Medical Officer of Health
- Motion to write a letter to the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee requesting Nelly’s present on accessibility barriers in housing (item HS10.3) at the May 4, 2026 meeting
- Motion supporting exploration of supportive housing models for women, gender-diverse people, and survivors of gender-based violence exiting homelessness
- Motion to invite the Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union to present at upcoming 2026 meetings
- Motion to excuse absences of Maria Sero Konalam and Chase God from the April 8, 2026 meeting

Deferred: - None explicitly noted

Rejected: - None explicitly noted

Attendees

• Elizabeth McKisac (Chair)
• Councillor Gord Perks
• Councillor Chris Moyes
• Councillor Diana Chan McNiven
• Councillor Paula Fletcher
• Councillor Frances Nunziata
• Lindsay (committee member with lived experience)
• Joy Connelly (committee member)
• Diana (former frontline worker/speaker)
• Nicole Curado (speaker)
• Miguel Aila Valard (speaker)
• Marie-José Houle (Federal Housing Advocate)
• Representatives from Nelly’s organization
• Representatives from Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT)
• Jen (City staff, Housing Services)