CERA - The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation is an Ontario-based non-profit human rights organization that promotes human rights in housing and challenges discrimination. CERA works to remove the barriers that keep disadvantaged individuals and families from accessing and retaining the housing they need. CERA has become a world leader in using both domestic and international human rights law to address issues of homelessness and poverty. We work collaboratively with non-governmental organizations in Canada and in other countries to promote and enforce economic and social rights.

Have you experienced discrimination in your search for housing?

It is against the law in Ontario for anyone to treat you unfairly or to refuse to rent you an apartment because of your Race, Sex, Colour, Nationality, Place of Origin, Sexual Orientation, Age and/or Religion.

Or because:

• You are pregnant or have children
• You are on welfare or government assistance
• You are a person living with a disability
• You are single, separated, divorced or living common law
• You are sixteen or seventeen and living away from your parents

If you have experienced discrimination related to your housing, call us at 1-800-263-1139 ext. 22. You can also e-mail us at intake@equalityrights.org

CERA receives no stable ongoing funding. In order to continue providing our services, we rely on individual project grants and direct fundraising. We gratefully accept donations of any amount. If you would like to make a donation, please send us a cheque or contact us by telephone or e-mail. We will issue a charitable receipt. You can also donate securely online through CanadaHelps. Just click on the link below.

CERA - Toronto
340 College Street, Suite 101A, Box 23, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 3A9
tel: 1.416.944.0087 OR 1.800.263.1139
fax: 1.416.944.1803

CERA - Ottawa
200 MacLaren Street, 2nd Floor, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 0L6
tel: 1.613.233.8618 fax: 1.416.352.5507

WHAT'S NEW?

Download the CERA/SRAC submission to the Ontario Human Rights Commission on Human Rights in Rental Housing (Sept 2007)(Word Doc)

Go to CERA's brand new national Housing Equality Resources website (July 2007)

Guide to the Montréal Principles (PDF)
(version française)
(version en español)

Download three new booklets on claiming social and economic rights developed by CERA and the Social Rights Advocacy Centre (December 2006):

Standing Up for Your Social and Economic Rights
English
French

The Right to Adequate Housing
English
French

The Right to an Adequate Standard of Living
English
French

Claim Your Rights