What if a justice-involved individual wants to access social housing?

Where a tenant has been previously evicted for an illegal act, social housing providers have a discretionary power to disqualify them or a household from accessing a social housing unit in some circumstances. 

Social housing providers can refuse social housing units to a household if:

• A member of their household was previously evicted, within the last 5 years, from social housing for an illegal act in the unit or within the residential complex, AND
• If the housing provider reasonably believes that a member of a household creates a safety risk to one or more tenants in the housing complex.

Some examples of illegal acts that can disqualify a member of a household include:

• Illegal production, distribution or sale of cannabis
• Trafficking of persons
• Use or attempted use of physical violence against another person
• Physical harm, attempted physical harm, or a risk of physical harm to another person
• Use of threats to intimidate or harass another person

This rule applies whether or not each member of the household was involved in an illegal act that resulted in eviction.

How You Can Help:

• Step 1: Refer your client to a legal clinic to see what options might be available to them if they have been disqualified from accessing social housing.
• Step 2: Help your client find alternative housing options in the area.