EXIT
THIS SITE NOW

WomanACT Statement on Participation in City of Toronto Housing Rights Advisory Committee

September 10, 2026

With Thanks to the City of Toronto 

WomanACT extends our sincere thanks to the City of Toronto for its support throughout our time as a member of the Housing Rights Advisory Committee (HRAC), whose inaugural term came to a close last month. 

HRAC was established by Toronto City Council in March 2023 as a new Council Advisory Body, created to ensure that the interests and needs of those with living or lived experience of housing precarity, discrimination and homelessness are reflected in City policies, programs and service delivery. WomanACT was proud to serve on this first cohort of members and to help shape the Committee’s work from the ground up.

Over the course of the term, HRAC advised City Council directly on policies, programs and decision-making affecting the right to adequate housing, bringing forward the perspectives of people with living and lived experience of housing precarity, discrimination and homelessness. The Committee also supported the City’s engagement with equity-deserving communities to identify systemic barriers to housing, and made recommendations to Council on barriers falling outside the City’s own jurisdiction. For WomanACT, that meant ensuring the housing experiences of women and survivors of gender-based violence were part of the Committee’s advice to Council: the barriers they face in securing safe housing, the conditions they too often endure to keep it, and the information they need to advocate for themselves. 

We were pleased to see the City launch its new Rental Building Violation and Inspections Database, which reflects the Committee’s shared priorities around tenant rights, housing safety, transparency, and accountability. Tools like this one strengthen tenants’ ability to make informed decisions about where they live, an important foundation for safety and independence. 

As this first term concludes, we are grateful to City Council, City staff, and our fellow Committee members for their commitment to this work, and we look forward to continued collaboration in advancing housing rights across Toronto. 

In solidarity, 

Harmy Mendoza, 

Executive Director 

WomanACT 

Let's stay in touch

Get WomanACT news delivered to your inbox.

Other articles you might be interested in:

WomanACT Statement on Bill 112, Lydia’s Law (Accountability and Transparency in the Handling of Sexual Assault Cases), 2026

WomanACT welcomes the debate on Lydia’s Law at Queen’s Park and urges all members of the Legislature to support it. Lydia’s Law would bring much-needed transparency and accountability to how […]

News

Mind the Gap: The Motherhood Penalty and the Future of DEI in Canada

TORONTO, ON – At WomanACT, we train community, corporate, and government partners on the challenges women and gender-diverse people face in the workplace. A key part of this involves helping participants […]

News

Intimate Partner Violence and Hidden Homelessness

Violence against women is one of the main causes of homelessness and housing instability among women and children.   Approximately 30% of Canada’s homeless population are women, 91% of whom have […]

Opinion

WomanACT project wins community-based research award

We are excited to share that our research partners at the University of Guelph have won the The SciShops Pitch Challenge for our community-based approach to our financial abuse research! […]

News

Creating a Gender Equity Strategy and Gender Equality Office at the City of Toronto

This week, WomanACT spoke to City Council about the critical importance of a city-wide Gender Equity Strategy and Gender Equality Office at the City of Toronto. While we commend the […]

News

Let’s Talk Housing: HousingTO 2020-2030 consultation

Finding adequate and affordable housing in Toronto has become increasingly difficult. For women and children looking to leave situations of domestic violence, finding safe and affordable housing can be one […]

News