Accessible Housing Network

09/20/2026

Canada's Federal Housing Advocate understands the dire situation of seniors and people of all ages with disabilities.
https://nhc-cnl.ca/.../Advocates_Representations...

09/19/2026

Canada has run out of excuses to delay action on accessible housing. We possess the necessary expertise,
including the guidelines established by the Accessibility Standards Canada, to create housing
that more effectively meets the needs of the disability community. We have a federal
government that is committed to the right to adequate housing as a fundamental human right.
Canada knows what to do. What is needed is federal leadership to begin nationwide changes to
how homes are built and who gets to live in them. Canada must not ask the disability
community to wait another generation for a home.
- Canada's Federal Housing Advocate

09/15/2026

My letter in today's Toronto Star:
Re: A new guide grows from a life-altering sepsis ordeal

Yet again, we see the suffering caused by the Ontario Building Code. Teenager Amalie Henze, now a quadruple amputee due to sepsis, was forced to struggle in a non-accessible home. Her family was forced to make "modifications" to their home to make it "more accessible".

As CMHC reports, renovations to make a home accessible are extremely expensive, but including accessibility from the design stage results in housing which costs the same whether it's accessible or not.

Why does the Ontario Building Code not mandate that all NEW housing be accessible (universal design) so anyone of any age or ability can live there?

We are all just one terrible accident or illness away from Amalie's situation.

Kate Chung
Co-founder, Accessible Housing Network
Toronto

09/11/2026

Folks, we have to see this film.

At Roy Thomson Hall, the cast and crew of "Being Heumann" pose on the red carpet ahead of its premiere.

People posing in a semi-circle on a red carpet surrounded by spectators.
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09/10/2026

News from Stella's Circle

A New Home Opens for Women in St. John's NL

On September 14th, we're proud to officially open a brand new housing development in downtown St. John's, adding 15 units for women and gender diverse people who are particularly vulnerable to cycles of homelessness and gender-based violence. Located above the newly expanded Just Us Women's Centre, this is the first space of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador: trauma-informed housing built specifically for women from across the province, where supportive housing options are almost nonexistent.

This new development pairs safe, stable housing with the layered supports of the Just Us Women's Centre, giving residents both a home and the tools to build lasting independence. It's the newest addition to our 133 units of affordable housing already in operation, and another example of Stella's Circle stepping in to fill a critical gap in our community.

The building itself has deep roots in downtown St. John's and has been thoughtfully restored to serve its new purpose. Our federal, provincial, and municipal partners, along with the Northpine Foundation and private donors helped bring this vision to life.

09/07/2026

From Seniors for Social Action Ontario:
IT IS TIME FOR RIGHTS-BASED SUPPORT FOR OLDER ADULTS
September 7, 2026
OLDER ADULTS ARE BECOMING A POWER BLOCK – IT IS TIME WE USED THAT POWER
“By the late 2070s, the global population aged 65 and older is projected to reach 2.2 billion, surpassing the number of children under age 18. By the mid-2030s, there will be 265 million individuals aged 80 and older, outnumbering infants.” (United Nations, 2026).
As of 2025 there were 41,651,653 people in Canada. Of those 10,816,675 are over the age of 60 (Statistics Canada, 2026). Demographically, older adults now comprise nearly one quarter of the country.

You would never know it by how governments, many health and human services professionals, and even some family members treat us.

For too long we have accepted the status quo, failing to speak up for better treatment. After a lifetime of working, raising families, paying taxes, volunteering, and helping to care for grandchildren, many of us are treated as second-class citizens.

We have quietly accepted care dictated by bureaucratic convenience rather than human need. In too many families, the parents who supported their children into adulthood find themselves abandoned in their final years.

Human rights do not have a best before date. Elders deserve to have their rights, dignity, and autonomy respected.

ONTARIO STILL OPERATES ON A CHARITY MODEL
The current system reduces older adults to passive recipients of care. It strips away autonomy, dignity, and the will to live.

Home Care: A Revolving Door of Strangers
Home care staff arrive when the system dictates, not when the individual needs them. Home care recipients endure a revolving door of caregivers who barely know them, some lacking the competence or consistency to provide safe, intimate care. The lack of continuity, and in some cases competence, violates trust and leaves older adults vulnerable.

That is the very nature of the charity model – it prioritizes throughput over people, and in doing so violates the autonomy, dignity, comfort, and the ability of older adults to control their own lives, sometimes leaving them feeling humiliated and violated.

SSAO's advocacy and new management at Ontario Health at Home has begun to change this. We look forward to more progress on Home Care Modernization this Fall.

Long Term Care: Institutionalized Poor Houses
Long term care institutions are even worse. Regardless of cosmetic “improvements” these facilities remain rooted in an archaic, institutional charity model. They destroy personal autonomy, enforce rigid institutional routines, and expose residents to preventable infections, abuse and neglect.

Even a cursory review of official inspection reports tells the story. Despite claims of progress the evidence shows that conditions in many facilities have not fundamentally improved in over forty years.

The Ontario government continues to fund these institutions because they are hearing demands for it from their constituents - which means they are not hearing enough from you! At the end of this editorial, you will find ways to contact your MPP and drown out the voices of those calling for more institutional beds.

AGEISM DRIVES THIS SYSTEM
Ageism is the root cause of both charity-based elder care and institutionalization. The International Longevity Centre Canada has highlighted UN data revealing the stark reality that “1 out of every 2 people worldwide holds ageist attitudes against older adults. This widespread bias actively undermines health outcomes, shortens lifespans, and restricts the basic human rights of older persons globally.” https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-longevity-centre-canada/posts/

This statistic is not abstract. It means your children, your health care providers, your politicians, and your government may unconsciously view aging as a burden rather than a natural stage of life.

TIME FOR A RIGHTS-BASED MODEL
Change is finally coming through a federal voice.

The International Longevity Centre Canada has declared that “a person's fundamental rights do not decrease as they grow older, meaning dignity, self-determination, and fair treatment must remain absolute across the full lifespan”. They are actively working to “replace charity-based mentalities with a clear, enforceable rights framework that protects older adults as equal citizens.”

SENIORS FOR SOCIAL ACTION ONTARIO (SSAO) FIGHTS AGEISM AND CALLS FOR CHANGE
For nearly seven years SSAO has targeted the Ontario government’s systemic policies and practices that undermine, demean, dehumanize, and disempower older adults.

Our membership refuses to accept mass institutionalization and the mistreatment of older adults by a system that claims to serve them.

This Fall, SSAO is telling the Ontario government emphatically – no more!
No more institutions. Redirect funding to non-profit community-based services and supports and residential alternatives to institutions.
No more home care based dictated by system convenience rather than individual need. We are calling for home care to be person-directed with elders and their caregivers in charge, not system-directed.
No more ageist public policies that infantilize older adults and silence their voices. SSAO is speaking up on social media, in letters to the editors of newspapers, and with public officials. Please join us in raising your own voices as well.
SSAO’S INDEPENDENCE IS ITS STRENGTH
SSAO is an independent voice for change. We do not accept government funding so we are never afraid to challenge government policy.

We do not take corporate money, so we fearlessly challenge private companies that exploit vulnerable disabled elders for profit.

We do not rely on foundations with hidden agendas, allowing us to focus entirely on the needs of older adults rather than the priorities of funders who prefer to focus on hospitals and universities rather than older adults themselves.

We insist that elders be a valued part of research initiatives with the clear demand “nothing about us without us!”

We are funded entirely by member donations. This preserves our ability to stand up to anyone who seeks to dehumanize older adults or who fails to take their needs and perspectives into account.

Exercising an independent voice makes us unpopular at times, but we will never compromise our mission to secure fair and equal treatment for all older adults and adhere to the mandate our members have given us – to advance an agenda of alternatives to mass institutionalization.

PLEASE ACT NOW – CONTACT YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE
This Fall we are calling on our members to raise their voices. Contact your MPPs and MP’s. Click on their names to obtain their e-mail addresses:
https://www.ola.org/en/members/current?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23945354532&gclid=CjwKCAjwzNTUBhAjEiwA7zcvWn19_0Qs4VzTAev8QarQ7IZV2-xG5t5niF3YVxXyPI89BuQ3gSuY9hoCuFAQAvD_BwE
Demand that they truly represent you. Call for an end to government funded institutions and demand redirection of that investment into these proven alternatives:Assisted living apartments with Integrated Wellness Hubs Support assisted living apartments that incorporate PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care of the Elderly) style Wellness Hubs. See Halton region’s model projects: https://www.halton.ca/for-residents/infrastructure-and-growth/housing-projects and https://www.burlingtonoht.ca/community-wellness-hub/
Small Neighbourhood Homes for Dementia:Replace locked institutional wards with small, community-based, fully staffed homes for people living with dementia. See SSAO’s Report and Summary on Small Neighbourhood Homes:https://mcusercontent.com/36363a028fc1d1a14890ff48e/files/04f00511-e498-3b01-6c5e-600076216d0c/Small_Neighbourhood_Homes_Report_Summary_Slidesfor_mail.pdf andhttps://mcusercontent.com/36363a028fc1d1a14890ff48e/files/610e4273-7631-c044-84e6-f551d8b65aa1/SSAO_Small_Neighbouhood_Homes_Project.pdf
Person-Directed NORCs: Fund elder organized and directed Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities that operate on a person-directed, not a person-centered model, giving residents full control over their environment and services. Please see Pioneer Network Person-Directed and Full Citizenship Continuum: https://www.pioneernetwork.org/culture-change/continuum-person-directed-culture/
We have compiled all the information you need to advocate effectively on our website under these tabs: Advocacy, Editorial, Research and Policy https://www.seniorsactionontario.com/

We have also hosted Zoom sessions with experts on these policies and programs. You will find the videos here: https://www.youtube.com/

It is time for change. When each of us speaks up, it becomes a movement. And movements move mountains.

Please join us in being the change you want to see in Ontario.

09/04/2026

Injured workers prepare for fall advocacy amid worker’s comp bill and insurance cuts
by Gabriela Calugay-CasugaSeptember 2, 2026
Injured workers are organizing for a change to Bill 105 which proposes amendments to injured workers’ insurance and compensation.
Injured workers in Ontario are preparing to fight hard against Bill 105 when the provincial legislature reconvenes in the fall. A leader of the injured workers movement said this fight is especially important after Ontario decided to cut 466 jobs at the Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) starting with jobs in Northern Ontario.

Injured workers are organizing for a change to Bill 105 which proposes amendments to injured workers’ insurance and compensation. The bill includes an increase to the compensation injured workers receive and an expansion of benefits coverage to include workers in residential care facilities operated by private employers and group homes.

While workers are regarding this positively, concerns are also being raised about the end of the “lock-in” policy which locks a worker’s compensation at a certain rate after six years. Additionally, the increase of a worker’s compensation rate from 85 per cent to 90 per cent of pre-injury earnings will not be retroactive. The 85 per cent compensation rate was set amid a financial crisis the WSIB faced in 1998.

Now, the WSIB’s most recent report shows they were operating at a sufficiency ratio of 117.1 per cent. The board’s sufficiency ratio calculates whether it has enough money to cover its expenses in a given year.

Despite the WSIB”s financial position, it announced it will be cutting 466 jobs. The Ontario Compensation Employees Union leader Harry Goslin has told the media that the cuts will hurt the workers who are losing jobs and the injured workers that rely on their services.

Steve Mantis, chair of the research action group within the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG), said the combination of WSIB cuts and Bill 105 amount to an abandonment of injured workers’ rights in Ontario.

“It’s really distressing to see this with one little piece of our social safety net,” Mantis said in an interview with rabble. “That’s where we’re headed with this, income inequality, the wealth gap and a negative impact in terms of our health and well being.”

READ MORE: Mobilizing against Carney’s CEO summit

Bill 105 was first introduced in April and has since passed second reading. At a planning meeting, ONWIG participants said that the summer break provides an opportunity for injured workers to raise awareness about their concerns before the bill goes to third reading.

Mantis said people should be making connections within their community and pushing their MPPs to take a stand against the bill as written. He noted that raising awareness on this particular issue will also show the government that Ontarians care about injured workers more broadly.

“We [injured workers] are almost invisible. There’s very little kind of coverage in the media or discussion in the public realm around these issues,” he said. “People just kind of go on with their lives without kind of recognizing how much at risk they can be when they just go to work every day, trying to make a living for their families.”

Mantis emphasized that wins for injured workers are wins for everybody. When a worker gets injured and the social safety net meant to catch them has eroded, the community is the one who must find a way to protect the worker’s health.

09/01/2026

https://www.aodaalliance.org/whats-new/disability-advocates-press-metrolinx-ceo-to-stop-its-foot-dragging-on-fixing-obvious-accessibility-problems-on-the-eglinton-crosstown-and-finch-west-lrt-lines-revealed-in-widely-viewed-aoda-alliance-o/

Disability Advocates Press Metrolinx CEO to Stop Its Foot-Dragging on Fixing Obvious Accessibility Problems on the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRT Lines Revealed in Widely-Viewed AODA Alliance Online Videos ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ALLIANCE NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIA...

09/01/2026

You're invited: Prairie Disability Alliance: Western Connections 2026

The Prairie Disability Alliance is a pan-prairie disability network working together to advance accessibility, promote disability rights and build stronger, more inclusive communities for all. As a supporter of Barrier-Free Alberta they have joined forces with Barrier Free Saskatchewan (BFSK) and Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) to form the Prairie Disability Alliance! They want to invite you to help them shape the alliance by joining the Prairie Disability Alliance: Western Connections 2026 conference September 19, 2026 on Zoom.
To register go to prairie disability alliance.ca
and if you have any follow up questions you can email [email protected]

Additional Details for the Conference:
Date: Saturday September 19, 2026
Time: 12:00-3:00 pm MDT (Alberta, Saskatchewan) 1:00-4:00 pm CDT (Manitoba)
Location: Zoom - Registration required: Western Connections 2026 Registration link.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wKulI3ooTGi6EXND1tWKvA #/registration
ASL and CART will be provided, additional accommodations can be requested on the registration form.

Working Together for Accessibility Across the Prairies. Sharing Knowledge. Building Partnerships. Strengthening Disability Advocacy. The Prairie Disability Alliance was created in 2026 as part of Barrier Free Saskatchewan’s 10th Anniversary efforts to strengthen collaboration and build a stronger ...

08/21/2026

In Alberta:

The rollout of ADAP has been a mess. Today, many people who were expecting their benefits reported that they hadn’t received their payments. Say NO to ADAP!