TORONTO — In several Toronto districts, disabled human beings are the target or unnecessary prejudice. Residents of certain communities feel that the introduction of rooming houses, often the only option of housing for disabled people living on their own, will decrease property value, and that the disabled people themselves will decrease the quality of the neighborhood.
The HomeComing Coalition is a Toronto-based non-profit that battles this prejudice and stigma. Last July, they, along with many other organizations, were pleased to see the Ontario Humans Rights Commission (OHRC) issue a statement reminding landlords that denying accommodation to those with disabilities violates the Ontario Code.
Then, in January of this year, they helped ensure that Toronto’s planning and growth committee introduce an order that would require all 44 wards in Toronto to draw up by-laws permitting the construction of rooming houses, where several disabled people could live together in one house, paying low-rent and being looked after full-time.
Article 25 of the UN declaration of human rights says, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family.” Since rooming houses are often the only choice of housing for those with disabilities, it should known as a basic standard of living, and therefore a human right.
However, even with these cultural and political breakthroughs, the HomeComing Coalition remains wary of loopholes in the by-laws that may still be discriminatory. Since so many individuals across Toronto are concerned about property values, especially in tough economic times like these, the by-laws may take long to be drafted and passed.
The Coalition also fights prejudice towards aboriginals on the same grounds, that their introduction into a neighbourhood would decrease the overall standard of living, due to a stereotypical depiction of the group. Also, off-reserve aboriginals cannot access federally funded services that were previously available to them on-reserve.
The government is wary of aiding aboriginals in everyday society therefore, in urban centers, they must fend for themselves. They move to the cities in search of a better life, but are often the target of discrimination, leaving them without jobs and money.
Youths are the last of the three groups the HomeComing Coalition, along with other organizations like it, fights to defend. The introduction of youths into a neighborhood, residents believe, could pose safety risks, since the stereotypical view of low-income youth is negative. In reality, many low-income youth are students, without the necessary funds to live near campus or afford rent even with a roommate.
The next battle for the HomeComing Coalition and its partners will be to ensure the safety of those who do move into these neighborhoods. Aboriginals, youths and those with disabilities could be subject to verbal and perhaps even physical abuse, something that non-profits, along with the government, will have to prevent.