Homeless and underhoused Ontarians launch a legal challenge against the federal and provincial governments
On Wednesday May 26, 2010 Tracy Heffernan, a staff lawyer for the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, launched a legal challenge on behalf of a group of five applicants, charging that homelessness and inadequate housing harms people, and that the failure of governments to provide adequate housing violates Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees everyone the right to life, liberty and security.
Heffernan told a press conference, “People are harmed by hunger, reduced life expectancy and significant damage to their mental, emotional and physical health. In some cases, they die.” The notice of application (opens to PDF) demands that Ontario and Canada implement effective national and provincial strategies to reduce and eliminate homelessness and inadequate housing.
We speak with Tracy Heffernan about the legal challenge.
