Community Legal Services / Services juridiques communautaires

07/08/2026

Sometimes, hope can fit in the palm of your hand.

For people seeking refugee protection, the refugee determination process is overwhelming. It is difficult to imagine what it means to leave your home, cross borders in search of safety, and carry the weight of uncertainty while waiting for a decision that will determine your future.

This little teddy bear was an anchor for one of our clients throughout that journey. Something to hold onto through fear, uncertainty, and hope.

We're delighted to share that she and her family have been granted refugee protection in Canada. After so much uncertainty, they can finally begin the next chapter of their lives with greater safety, stability, and peace.

When she received the decision, she was holding this little bear. Along with it, she shared a small gift and a handwritten note that touched her lawyer.

“Thank you so much for giving us hope and support in a better place to make our dreams come true”.

Moments like these remind us why access to justice matters.

Congratulations to our client and her family. We wish them peace, belonging, and every success as they begin this new chapter.

07/06/2026

Renovictions are on the rise, and knowing the warning signs can help you protect your home.

Swipe through to see 5 signs that could mean your landlord is planning a renoviction.

Important reminder: getting a notice is NOT the same as being evicted. Your landlord has to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board, and you can stay in your home until the Board sets a termination date.

Know your rights. Learn more at: bit.ly/ACTO5warningsigns

07/03/2026

In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario

A new report from ISAC shares what 200 people on Ontario Works and ODSP told researchers about their lives, and what needs to change.

The system isn't keeping people out of poverty. Recipients described choosing between rent and food, medication and transportation, basic necessities and survival.

Their message is clear: adequate benefit rates, easier access to services, and policies that reflect the real cost of living today.

Nearly one million Ontarians rely on social assistance at some point in their lives. Their voices deserve to be heard.

Read the full report (EN or FR) here: https://bit.ly/4gkv5fE

07/02/2026

Community Legal Services of Ottawa (CLSO) has seen a sharp rise in tenants seeking help because of renovictions.

In 2019, we assisted 67 households facing renoviction-related issues. Today, we hear from around 200 tenants each year. Behind every number is someone at risk of losing their home, their community, and the affordable housing they rely on.

On July 8, Ottawa's Planning and Housing Committee will vote on a proposed renoviction bylaw following years of advocacy by tenants, housing advocates, and community organizations. While we strongly believe the proposed bylaw should go further, this is an important opportunity to strengthen protections for tenants and help prevent bad faith renovictions.

If you've experienced a renoviction, know someone who has, or believe Ottawa needs stronger tenant protections, now is the time to speak up.

Swipe through to learn:
• What a renoviction is.
• Why a municipal bylaw is needed.
• CLSO's position on the proposed bylaw.
• How you can have your voice heard before the July 8 committee meeting.

The final slide includes information on how to register as a delegate, submit written comments, and access CAWI's free Deputation 101 Guide.

You can stay informed on renoviction bylaw updates: https://engage.ottawa.ca/rental-renovation-licence-by-law-review

Housing is a human right. Ottawa has an opportunity to strengthen protections for tenants. Help make sure your voice is part of that decision.

06/30/2026

Affordable housing is disappearing, and too many long-term tenants are paying the price.

Listen to Ottawa City Councillor Ariel Troster speak about why Ottawa needs a renoviction bylaw to better protect tenants from bad-faith evictions disguised as renovations.

At Community Legal Services of Ottawa, we have seen an increase in cases where long-term tenants, many of them seniors, people with disabilities, and those living on fixed incomes, are at risk of losing their homes and the affordable rents they have relied on for years.

Have you experienced a renoviction or received an eviction notice for renovations? Your story matters.

Share your experience with your City Councillor. If you would like guidance on making a public delegation or written submission for the July 8 committee meeting, where councillors will vote on the proposed renoviction by-law, contact Councillor Troster's office at [email protected].

Housing is a human right. Everyone deserves a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1164733989142870

06/26/2026

Notice: Our office will be closed on July 1st and will reopen on July 2nd. Stay safe and enjoy the celebrations!

06/24/2026

06/23/2026

Bill 60 threatens to make it harder for tenants to access justice.

The proposed changes would require tenants to pay 50% of alleged rent arrears before they can fully challenge a landlord's claim at a hearing. But arrears claims aren't always accurate—tenants have successfully proven that payments were made, records were incorrect, or the amount claimed was wrong.

CLSO has warned, forcing tenants to pay before they've had a chance to present evidence undermines the right to a fair hearing and could increase housing instability and homelessness.

As CLSO paralegal James Hardwick explains:
"The requirement that tenants pay one-half of the arrears claimed by a landlord before being permitted to raise section 82 issues screams bias, as the claim does not need to be backed by evidence or tested by testimony. In cases where the alleged arrears are the result of unlawful rent increases, it’s contrary to the purpose of the Act to force a tenant to pay that amount in order to raise section 82."

Access to justice means having your case decided on the evidence—not on your ability to pay before you've been heard.

06/20/2026

Today is World Refugee Day.

At Community Legal Services of Ottawa, we see every day how access to justice changes lives.

Across refugee, housing, and social benefits work, we see the same truth: people want safety, stability, and the chance to live with dignity.

Today is a celebration of refugee joy, resilience, culture, and community. It is also a time to stand together for dignity, fairness, and human rights, and reaffirm that we are better together.

Check out the We're Better Together campaign: https://bettertogethercanada.ca/