Rooming houses provide affordable housing to a variety of tenants: seniors, students, newcomers, people who are marginalized and vulnerable, as well as some families. The City is embarking on research to identify issues affecting regulation and enforcement in order to improve conditions in rooming houses and their impact on surrounding communities. The review also seeks to find
May 4th - Public Consultation on Rooming Houses
solutions that bring unlicensed rooming houses into compliance without
jeopardizing housing for vulnerable tenants.
The first step in the rooming house review is a robust consultation process with a broad range of stakeholders across the city.
Public Interest, a community-based research group, is working with the City to engage:
- tenants and landlords of rooming houses,
- agencies that serve clients looking for affordable housing like rooming houses, and
- community-based groups and individuals that have experiences with rooming houses in their communities.
The goal of the consultation process is to uncover perspectives on issues surrounding rooming houses and begin a constructive conversation about possible solutions for all stakeholders.
There is an opportunity for everyone to have their say.
There are a number of ways to engage in the consultation process:
- Fourteen neighbourhood-based consultations will be conducted from April 7 to May 7.
- An online survey will be available throughout the consultation process.
- A series of focus groups with tenants and service providers will be held to gain a better understanding of who uses rooming houses and why they choose that housing option.
Consultation details
View ML&S Public Consultation calendar, which includes the consultations listed below.Join other community members and stakeholders to discuss how we can improve:
- Living conditions for rooming house tenants
- The impact rooming houses have on surrounding communities
| Parkdale Library, Auditorium 1303 Queen Street West Thursday, April 9th 6-8pm |
| Lillian H. Smith Library, Auditorium 239 College Street Monday, April 13th 6-8pm |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School, Gym 3105 Don Mills Road Tuesday, April 14th 6:30-8:30pm |
| Stephen Leacock Community Centre, Main Hall 2500 Birchmount Road Monday, April 20th 6-8 PM |
| Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, Leadership Room 875 Morningside Avenue Tuesday, April 21st 6:30-8:30pm |
| North York Central Library, Room 1 5120 Yonge Street Wednesday, April 22nd 6-8pm |
| Atkinson Building, York University, Harry Crowe Room 4700 Keele Street Thursday, April 23rd 6-8 PM |
| L'Amoreaux Community Recreation Centre, Studio Room 1 2000 McNicoll Avenue Monday, April 27th 7-9 pm |
| Elmbank Community Centre, Multi-Purpose Room 10 Rampart Road Tuesday, April 28th 7-9pm |
| Annex/Harbord Village Location TBD Wednesday, April 29th Time TBD |
| Wellesley Community Centre, Room A 495 Sherbourne Street Thursday, April 30th 6:30-8:30pm |
| Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, Multi-Purpose Room ( Upper Level) 870 Queen Street East Monday, May 4th 6:30-8:30pm |
| New Horizons Tower, Auditorium 1140 Bloor Street West Tuesday, May 5th 7-9pm |
| Francis Libermann Catholic High School, Cafeteria 4640 Finch Avenue East Thursday, May 7th 6:30-8:30pm |
