Preventing Eviction - Housing Peer Mentors

As 2020 ends, Peer Support is an essential service for crisis prevention, and in Toronto, especially prevention of homelessness. Many feel homelessness is the only option in crisis - especially when stress, lack of resources, and mental health issues are impacting decision making. Peer Mentors support health and mental health that are needed to sustain housing and support transition for those in Toronto who are over housed. Most households in Toronto live above the 30% income housing allowance. For those households affected by Covid-19 now on Employment Insurance, the financial need is to transition to lower cost housing to sustain month the month costs.

Peer Supporters and Peer Mentors support difficult transitions in housing and employment, and are rich in resources to prevent entering a shelter and homelessness. Creative solutions of household sharing to reduce monthly rent expense can be an option to maintain living in environments and neighbourhoods of choice. Health and Mental Health are both impacted by home environments that support anti-oppression and peaceable living - and lower income single dwellings in Toronto may prove to be the opposite of healthy, and impact recovery ability. Peer Housing Mentors can support navigating best options. Other supports are available, but limited that may prevent a pending eviction.

The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) has a program that supports prevention of eviction based on discrimination, such as due to mental health issues and behaviours (CERA Telephone: 416-944-0087). Behaviours are the number one reason why those in supportive housing are evicted - and can be intervened by working with a trained Peer Supporter. Individuals with low income on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support program income may be eligible for the Housing Stabilization Fund, accessed through their Case Worker. For those who are employed, Rent Banks are available as a financial support. The Housing Centre at Woodgreen Community Services is a downtown region eviction prevention program for access to the Rent Bank (Woodgreen Housing Help Centre Telephone: 416-645-6000 ext. 2500. Individuals who are employed with low incomes can access the Housing Stability Fund through Ontario Works - without needing to already be receiving benefits.

Considering transitioning to Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income makes sustaining month to month $1200.00 rent payments unaffordable as only $600 is received as monthly income for rent. Employment recovery is a specialization of Peer Mentors who help support resilience and self care and share tools and skills to re-enter employment through transitioning skills and experiences. Currently the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board is actively evicting individuals, families and households during a housing crisis in Ontario. In a time of needing Peer housing specialists the most, lived expertise in homelessness recovery Peers can be mobilized to support Eviction challenge and crisis in Toronto. Mentor/Mentee Canada is a grassroots organization that supports transition through peer support values and recovery housing and employment specializations (Mentor/Mentee Canada: 647-562-0483).

In Toronto, more than 5000 households are facing eviction from their homes due to Covid-19 financial loss without the support of Peer Mentors for Prevention. Those who support Housing stability through Lived Experience of Recovery can help to prevent the fall into homelessness of their Peers. Housing Peer Mentors can help problem solve through financial stress, navigate critical supports, resources and services. Housing Peer Mentors are knowledgeable in Landlord and Tenant Board rules and Tribunal processes.

Peer Employment on Housing Crisis call lines is a preventative solution. Peer Support itself can stop harmful behaviours that lead to eviction. Peer Support assists budgeting to remain housed and champions recovery to re-employment.

Peer Mentors are knowledgeable of Landlord and Tenant Board rules and procedures and can be supportive in mediation and tribunal appearances. Free legal advice is available at each Tribunal location by telephone for a consultation with a lawyer regarding an eviction application. Low income households can receive free legal help to support facing eviction (Neighbourhood Legal Services Telephone: 416-861-0677). The Federation of Metro Tenants also offers a Tenant Hotline to advise Tenant’s legal rights (Tenant Hotline Telephone: 416-921-9494). Advocacy of Tenant rights which support cases of slum landlords where all are treated unfairly in tenancy is available through OCAP, the Coalition against Poverty (OCAP Telephone: 416-925-6939).

Supporting mental health, health through transition to recovery is a challenge Peer Supporters are prepared to support for better outcomes, preventing homelessness. The growth of the Peer Movement - through Peer Employment - in Ontario and Canada is a systems recovery solution that is practical and necessary recovery systems approach and investment.