The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) is a specialty community legal clinic with a provincial mandate to advance and protect the interests of low-income tenants. We specialize in housing issues related to tenants in Ontario.
ACTO is a non-partisan and non-governmental advocacy organization. Our client community includes a broad range of people living on low incomes who do not own their homes including residential tenants, members of non-profit housing co-operatives, homeless people and those who rent homes not subject to the Residential Tenancies Act.
ACTO also manages the Tenant Duty Counsel Program (TDCP) across Ontario.
We believe that everything begins with housing – without it, no one can truly live life with dignity.
Vision
Our vision is safe, well-maintained, secure and affordable housing for all Ontarians.
Mission
ACTO works for the advancement of human rights and justice in housing for low- income Ontarians through legal advice & representation, law reform, community organizing, training and education.
Values
Our choices and actions are informed by the principles of human rights and social justice. Our work is guided by the following values:
- Transparency
- Accessibility
- Collaboration
- Accountability
Board of Directors
ACTO is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Directors on ACTO’s Board come from communities across Ontario which includes tenants with low incomes, tenant advocates, staff from other community legal clinics and community organizers.
We welcome social justice and housing advocacy groups to participate in our work as Associate Members. If you are interested, please write to us using the contact form.
Staff
ACTO has 8 staff:
- Director of Advocacy and Legal Services
- Director of Administration
- 2 Staff Lawyers
- Legal Administrative Assistant
- Housing and Economics Policy Analyst
- Communications and Public Affairs Specialist
- Admin Assistant/Receptionist (shared)
Tenant Duty Counsel Program (TDCP) has 11 staff:
- Program Director
- Program Administrator
- Supervisory Tenant Duty Counsel
- 8 Tenant Duty Counsel