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Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

Home Blog Housing Can't find a home? Discrimination in housing fueled by recession

Michael Shapcott

Can't find a home? Discrimination in housing fueled by recession

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has released its latest annual report, with a strong focus on discrimination in housing. While everyone is affected by the current recession, not everyone is affected equally. Even before the recession, discrimination in housing was being fueled by a province-wide affordable housing crisis, and all indications are that the problems are growing more intense. Click here for a link to a Canadian Press story that includes quotes from Michael Shapcott of the Wellesley Institute and Sharad Kerur of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association on the critical importance of a rights-based approach to dealing with housing discrimination, and the challenges that are faced by affordable housing landlords that must follow a bewildering array of provincial rules and regulations under the Social Housing Reform Act. "Sorry It's Rented" is a recent report from the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation on discrimination in housing. Video link here.

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Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott is Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at Wellesley Institute. Michael has worked extensively in Toronto, in many parts of Canada, nationally and internationally on social innovation, the non-profit sector, civic engagement, housing and housing rights, poverty, social exclusion, urban health and health equity. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He is currently on secondment to the Princes' Charities Canada.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.