YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021

YOU’RE INVITED! YSW TENANT SUMMIT

HELPING EACH OTHER THROUGH COVID-19

RENT FREEZE 2021

TOP 5 TENANT VICTORIES IN 2020

YSW TENANT UNION NEWSLETTER WINTER 2021 [email protected] | tenantunion.ca | 647-548-6770 YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021 YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021

STRONGER TOGETHER Dear Neighbour, What is the York South-Weston Tenant Union? Right to Organize You and your neighbours have been busy over the last year. A group of tenants and tenant associations in York South-Weston It’s against the law Because of the collective effort of tenants just like you, we for your landlord to helping each other protect our homes. got repairs done, fought unfair rent increases and prevented prevent you from evictions. forming a tenant Member Tenant Associations: association. * 3561 West But these victories are only possible when you take action. * 338 Falstaff Avenue There are many ways to take action to protect your home * 22 Don’t with your neighbours: talking to your neighbours, delivering * 31 see your information, painting banners, planning events (fun ones * 33 King Street building? too!), etc. * 1440/1442 West * 102 Trethewey Drive COVID-19 has been a difficult time for renters in our * 2220/2222 Weston Road community. But you’re not alone, we’re stronger together * 2180/2190 Weston Road and when we fight together we win together. Contact us * 2450/2460 Weston Road to learn more about how you can take action to get the housing JOIN US! TAKE ACTION conditions you deserve. (it’s free!) A tenant association is the best way to defend your home. When you have a tenant association you don’t We look forward to hearing from have to deal with issues by yourself. Contact us to you! get involved in your tenant association! If your building doesn’t have a tenant association, get in touch with us In solidarity, for help starting one! We’re stronger together! tenantunion.ca/sign_up YSW Tenant Union Team [email protected] | tenantunion.ca | 647-548-6770 [email protected] | tenantunion.ca | 647-548-6770 YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021 YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021 TOP 5 TENANT VICTORIES IN YOU’RE INVITED! YORK SOUTH-WESTON

Chiara Padovani YSW Tenant Union Member

How does change happen? It happens because you and your neighbours make it happen! Here’s what we accomplished in 2020:

1 Eviction Ban: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic you and thousands of your neighbours demanded an immediate halt to evictions by signing our petition. We won an eviction ban March through August.

2 No Evictions in 14 Wadsworth & 2450 Weston Even after the Provincial Government prematurely lifted the eviction ban, we successfully protected each other and stopped evictions at 14 Wadsworth and 2450 Weston Road.

3 Rent Relief in 31 King Street: The tenants in 31 King Street got together to form a strong tenant association during COVID-19 and won rent relief!

4 Rent Freeze for 2021: We won a rent freeze for tenants in ! The freeze sets the “guideline” at 0% increase allowed for 2021.

5 We’re Growing: Hundreds of tenants joined the YSW Tenant Union and started organizing with their neighbours, which means we’re stronger than ever! [email protected] | tenantunion.ca | 647-548-6770 [email protected] | tenantunion.ca | 647-548-6770 YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021 YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021

TENANT ASSOCIATIONS AS 2021 RENT FREEZE MUTUAL AID IN COVID-19 Thanks to tenants just like you fighting for more affordable rents, we won a rent freeze for 2021!

Sharlene Henry What does the rent freeze mean for you? YSW Tenant Union Member The “guideline” increase is 0% for all private rental units in Ontario, including units that were not covered by rent control. This means your landlord In our tenant association in 33 King Street, we’re offering cannot increase your rent at all mutual aid support for our neighbours in our building. We call in 2021 unless they apply for an Above Guideline Rent our group A Community within 33 King. Increase at the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Mutual aid is a form of ‘checking in’ on your neighbours What should I do if I get notice of an Above and helping out with various things they many need. The Guideline Rent Increase? COVID-19 pandemic has made many people around the If you notice your landlord rennovating your building, world realize that we need to be more compassionate to it’s a good idea to start organizing a tenant association. the needs of our neighbours; especially those who live alone. Every time a tenants have organized and fought an A Community within 33 King is offering support with access above guideline rent increase they have won a to resources, a telephone tree, running errands, help with reduction. preparing meals and grocery shopping. TAKE ACTION We are currently looking for volunteers who would like to help out. Email us at [email protected] to get Many tenant associations in the YSW involved. We look forward to growing our support network in Tenant Union have fought above our building! guideline rent increase and won reductions. Contact us to learn Stay healthy and safe York-South Weston! how you can too! [email protected] | tenantunion.ca | 647-548-6770 [email protected] | tenantunion.ca | 647-548-6770 YSW Tenant Union Winter 2021 YSW TENANT CROSSWORD

Across Down (continued) 4. Participating in your tenant 2. A property owner or management association allows us to get to know company that rent to tenants our______. 3. Weston, Keelesdale, , 6. Prejudicial treatment towards a Rockcliffe-Smythe & Amesbury are specific category of people some of the neighbourhoods covered 9. Canada’s #1 Coffee Shop in by the ______Tenant 10. Tenants can collectively advocate Union for better living conditions by 5. The coronavirus ______has organizing a tenants’ ______impacted many people & businesses in Down 7. Occupants of a rented property 1. People who are evicted from their 8. A tenant pays this every month to homes are at risk of this their landlord

tenantunion.ca 647-548-6770 [email protected] @yswtenants York South-Weston Tenants