Heron Gate evictions a human rights issue, says housing advocate

An international housing advocate believes the impending eviction ofresidents of Ottawa's Heron Gate community is a human rights issue, and says politicians haven't done enough to prevent it.

• Mayor meets with Heron Gate tenants facing eviction
• Facing eviction, Heron Gate tenants have nowhere to go

Leilani Farha, the United Nations special rapporteuron the right to adequatehousing,lives in Ottawa and recently visited the residentsfacing eviction.

The owner of the development, Timbercreek Communities, announced plans in May to evict hundreds of people in order to tear down105 low-rent townhomesalong the east-west extension of Baycrest Drive to Sandalwood Drive.

The company says many of the units are past repair and can't be saved.

Heron Gate eviction violates human rights law, United Nations advocate says

6 years ago

Duration 0:40

Leilani Farha, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, says evicting residents from Ottawa's Heron Gate community violates international human rights law. Coun. Jean Cloutier says his hands are tied.

Timbercreekgave tenants four months of notice and has offered some financial assistance in the amount of three months of rent, a $1,500 moving allowance andhelp from a"relocation consultant."

But Farhasaid alternatives to eviction have to be explored, both by the developer and the municipal government, which she doesn't believe has been done.

"Under international human rights law, governments have certain obligations. They have obligations to make sure that communities aren't just completely evicted from where they're living. The government needs to be working with Timbercreek to get Timbercreek to do the right thing," Farhasaid.

Timbercreek did not immediately respond to requests for comment from CBCOttawa on Monday.

No suitable affordable housing

Abdullahi Ali, who lives in one of thetownhouses with his wife and six children, has called Heron Gate home for over 20 years.

He fears he'll be unable to find suitable housing for his large family elsewhere in the city, he said.Like many other families in his community, Ali needs athree- orfour-bedroom unit.

"[It is] very difficult to move out, very expensive to rent another place. And it's very difficult to find four-bedroom units in Ottawa."

Mohamed Iman, whohas lived in Heron Gate with his wife and seven children for nearly 10 years, is hoping people outside of the community will help stop the evictions.

"That's not good. This is Canada ... we have rights and freedoms," he said.

The search for subsidized housing

Finding affordable housing in the capital could prove challenging for families in Heron Gate.

There areapproximately 10,500 families waiting for subsidized housing in the city, according toShelleyVanBuskirk, director of housing, community and social services at the City of Ottawa.

A family on the wait list for rent-geared-to-income housing will wait approximately four years for a subsidized unit.

However, somefamiliesfacing extreme circumstances such asfleeing domestic violence orexperiencing homelessness are given "priority accessstatus" and housedmore quickly.

Families in Heron Gate who are already receiving rental subsidies will havepriority access status, VanBuskirksaid.

"Staff is actively working to secure additional private market units that are suitable to replace those being lost as a result of the demolition," VanBuskirkwrotein an emailed statement to CBCNews.

"The city and community partners are working together to provide tenants with information, resources and supports for the relocation over the coming months."

'A provincial process,' councillor says

Coun. Jean Cloutiersaid he has met with residents and his office is putting tenants in touch with resources to help them findnew homes.

But Cloutiersaid his hands are tied when it comes to stopping the evictions.

"Timbercreek is doing this under the Residential Tenancy Act. It is a provincial process. If I had the power to stop this, I would. If I had control over this process I would exercise it, but it is a provincial process," Cloutier said.

Ottawa South MPP John Fraser said his focus is not on the act, but what he said is a more "prudent and pragmatic" approach to focus on finding housing solutions elsewhere for the tenants.

He's calling for more time to be given forfamilies to find appropriate housing.

"It's tough, there's no question about that, and three- and four-bedroom units are tough to find. The most important thing is that these families need a home that's affordable, that's close to things that are important to families," Fraser said.

Should be allowed to move back

Farha said that at the very least, Heron Gate residents should be given the opportunity to move back to their community once Timbercreek redevelops the area.

"An alternative to eviction might include relocating the community for a period of time while the homes are refurbished [and] making sure they have the option to move back if that's what the community wants. And that would mean ensuring that the units that are recreated or rebuilt or refurbished are affordable for those tenants."

One way to ensure low-income families are not priced out of neighbourhoods is for cities to implement inclusionary zoning, Farha said.

Inclusionary zoning, which came into effect in Ontario in April, is a planning tool municipalities can use to make sure affordable housing units are included in residential developments of 10 units or more.

"What's happened in Heron Gate is typical of what's happening more broadly, andif governments don't step up and recognize their role in regulating what private developers do, then communities are going to be lost," Farha said.

"People are being pushed out of cities, the people who make cities vibrant."