Affordable Housing

Based on widespread input from Scarborough communities, SCAN has a mandate to focus on the equity issue of affordable housing for low-to-moderate income income individuals living in market rental housing through supporting civic engagement in the following ways:

INFORMATION SHARING

Focusing on (a) laws and policies related to affordable market rental housing and (b) tenants’ rights including:
• Regularly including links to tenants’ rights websites and laws and policies in newsletter.
• Collecting information regularly from housing advocates.
• Featuring Scarborough residents to show successful actions, etc...
• Profiling housing advocates to show successful actions.

CAPACITY BUILDING

To enable Scarborough residents to learn about housing rights and how to influence and shape policy-making and how to talk to politicians about problems/concerns that will include:
• Holding online & in-person workshops that inform people about (a) their rights as a tenant; (b) how people can organize to create and influence policy change and (c) tools for engaging effectively with politicians about problems/concerns.

• Inputting content from affordable housing campaign advisory groups.

• Working with community grassroots groups to hold workshops.

CIVIC ACTION CAMPAIGNS

We mobilize youth and community members to lead advocacy efforts aimed at expanding access to safe, supportive environments. Campaigns will focus on:
Launching a social media initiative — “My Vision for a Safe Community in Scarborough” — to crowdsource ideas and amplify youth voices. Advocating for increased funding for youth spaces, mental health supports, and employment opportunities in underserved communities.
Supporting youth-led organizing and campaign implementation, ensuring young people are central to the work.

PRIORITY COMMUNITIES

• The economically vulnerable.

• Racialized communities.

• Residents in underserved neighbourhoods.

• Immigrants.

• Seniors.

• Women.