Too many people in London and Middlesex lack adequate housing.

It’s time for meaningful action that addresses the root causes of the issue. That means fighting against income inequality, domestic and gender-based violence, homophobia and transphobia, for increased mental health support, and for tenants rights. It also means ensuring that there is increased access to safe, secure, affordable housing for those who need it, when they need it, and safe access to supports, shelter, and resources for community members currently living unhoused.

Everyone Deserves a Place to Live

Taking Action for Affordable Housing.

Be the change in the fight for increased access to affordable housing by working through these simple steps. Take the actions, read the blogs, dig into the statistics, or attend a Vital Conversation event; each step you take will make a difference.

Amplify

Follow, engage with, and share the causes and organizations that you’re passionate about on social media. Help spread their message throughout your personal networks. 

Use Your Voice

Speak up when faced with opinions or structures that perpetuate prejudice or inequality for those who may be unhoused or experiencing housing insecurity. Ask elected officials, or candidates how they’re ensuring everyone has a place to live. Ready to write to an elected official? You can reference this template to guide your communication. 

Show up

Find and attend local events, meetings, debates or marches  that allow you to show your support by standing alongside those impacted by the issues firsthand. Showing up in solidarity with those who have lived experience as an ally and a supporter can help advance real change. Make signs, tell friends, and show up. 

Share Your Resources and Time

Reach out, connect and support local organizations working towards a world where everyone has access to safe, stable, affordable housing. Donations and volunteer time are needed to help make change. Click here to see our full guide of local organizations and find one that you’d like to support.

And stay in touch! Be the Change will be sharing additional, tangible actions that will make a difference in the lives of members of our community. Sign up for our special email list to be kept in the loop.

Know Your Numbers

Affordable and adequate housing is becoming increasingly unattainable. The average price of rent in London increased by 36.9% in the last year (Rentals.ca). According to the City of London, there are 6,230 individuals and families currently on the waitlist for social housing and as of September 1, 2022, 2,241 individuals in our community were experiencing homelessness. London Cares has reported a 68% increase in their outreach team’s interactions with homeless individuals in the last year. They are currently supporting upwards of 300 urban encampments each month as shelters continue to be at capacity, and the available rental units in London continue to be very minimal - pushing individuals into the streets as they have nowhere else to go.

Want to dive deeper into the issue of affordable housing in London and Middlesex County?

Check out our London Vital Signs Data Hub for more data.

We recognize that we have blindspots; if we’ve missed an important message or if you’re aware of a statistic that has changed, please contact us and let us know.

London Leaders

There is so much knowledge in our community. This is a city full of activists, movement leaders, changemakers and lived experience experts and there is so much more to learn from them. Many are sharing their perspective on what’s next and calling on each of us to Be the Change.

Explore the diverse perspectives that provoke new thinking:

You’ve Taken Action.
But Don’t Stop There.

Change happens when people come together. Encourage those around you to take action. To help, we’ve designed these downloadable graphics that you can share on your own social media.

Click on the image to download.

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