What if someone is charged with a criminal offence?

General Rule: Someone involved in the criminal justice system can be at a higher risk of eviction because of that involvement. If your client is arrested or has a criminal charge placed against them, it can, in certain circumstances, lead to an eviction. 

For example:

• If they are in rental housing and charged with a crime that occurred in their rental unit or in the residential complex: They are at an especially high risk of eviction. See: “What if someone committed an illegal act on the property?”
• If they are in social housing: They can be evicted and barred from social housing for several years if they are evicted for committing an illegal act.

Even if your client’s charges or involvement with the justice system are as a result of racial profiling, and may be without merit, they are still at a high risk for eviction. If your client suspects that they were a victim of racial profiling and are being evicted because of this, refer them to a legal clinic or a specialty legal clinic that deals with race-based discrimination matters (e.g., Black Legal Action Centre, Aboriginal Legal Services, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, etc.)