St. Jude Community Homes

ACTO, acting for a group of activists who are psychiatric survivors (the Dream Team), asked the Ontario Municipal Board for permission to participate in an appeal hearing. The Dream Team wanted to fight ratepayer opposition to the conversion of an old industrial building to long-term supportive rental housing by St. Jude Community Homes. The Board decided that we had “an important perspective and legitimate concern because (our) clients may be future residents in this proposed development” and added the Dream Team as a party.

We argued at the Board that planning rules must be applied in a way that respects the equality rights of the persons needing the proposed housing. The Board ruled in favour of the housing project. They decided that the project was the right size, that St. Jude had a “wonderful track record” and that the concerns of the residents about the project bringing harm to the neighbourhood “would not come to pass”.