Item - 2016.TD3.1

The Tenant Issues Committee received the report (May 2, 2016) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration for information.

The Tenant Defence Fund and the Tenant Hotline programs were created by Council in 1999 and began operating in 2000.  Most recently, the programs were reviewed in 2006, in response to the changes in Provincial tenant legislation (the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 came into effect on January 31, 2007, replacing the Tenant Protection Act, 1997).  As a result of the changes in tenant legislation, a number of minor program modifications were made to the programs.

In keeping with Shelter, Support and Housing Administration's (SSHA's) Housing Stability Service Plan, a number of projects are being reviewed to ensure coordinated access to and effectiveness of tenant support and services funded by Shelter, Support and Housing Administration.

This report outlines a plan for reviewing the Tenant Defence Fund and Tenant Hotline, which includes a review of: the mandate of these programs; models for providing information and outreach to tenants needing assistance, for example, about rent increases; and assessing the sector's capacity to meet the needs of tenants requiring information about above guideline rent increases and other issues related to their tenancy.

Shelter, Support and Housing Administration will report back to Tenant Issues Committee in fall 2016 with the preliminary results of this review and recommendations for next steps.