Hello, I bring this comment…

Hello,
I bring this comment/concern forward regarding the housing crisis in Ontario for people with developmental disabilities and the discriminatory barriers in the PPS 2020/ and proposed PPS 2023 that contribute to the housing crisis.

Discrimination in PPS:
Section 3.1.5 a) states: Development shall not be permitted to locate in hazardous lands and hazardous sites where the use is: a) an institutional use including hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes, pre-schools, school nurseries, day cares and schools; b) an essential emergency service such as that provided by fire, police and ambulance stations and electrical substations; or c) uses associated with the disposal, manufacture, treatment or storage of hazardous substances.

PPS definition of Institutional Use: for the purposes of policy 3.1.5, means land uses where there is a threat to the safe evacuation of vulnerable populations such as older persons, persons with disabilities, and those who are sick or young, during an emergency as a result of flooding, failure of floodproofing measures or protection works, or erosion.

I’d like to refute the use of the term “institutional use” for group homes, housing 1-7 people.
The last institution for people with developmental disabilities was shut down in
Ontario in 2009 so that people could live equally within their communities.

The OHRC states: Opposition to housing for people with disabilities is a
violation of people’s rights to be free from discrimination in housing – which means it is against the
law. “Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to the occupancy of accommodation without
discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex,
sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, disability or the receipt of public assistance.” –
Ontario Human Rights Code, s.2(1)
The OLT defines supportive and group home housing with or without support workers as residential use.
There are numerous cases that have been taken to both the Ontario Land Tribunal and the Ontario
Human Rights Tribunal that involved denied group home living to people with disabilities. In all of these
cases, municipalities and zoning bylaws were struck down in favour of providing access to housing for
people with disabilities.

Since The OLT and OHRC both define group home living as residential use, not institutional use, the PPS is in violation and therefore against the law.

Discrimination in housing:
Discriminatory opposition in housing may often take on systemic or institutional forms. Systemic or
institutional discrimination includes municipal bylaws, policies or practices that create or perpetuate a
position of relative disadvantage for people identified by Code grounds. These may appear neutral on
the surface, and may have been well-meaning, but nevertheless have an exclusionary impact based
on Code-protected grounds. The key here is not to just consider intent – it is equally important to think
about the impact municipal decisions have.

I appreciate the amendments to generate appropriate housing supply specifically to address homelessness and facilitate development of a full range housing options and adorability levels to meet local needs.
Ontario has an estimated 26 year long waitlist for housing for people with developmental disabilities.
I request to remove persons with developmental disabilities from the definition of institutional use.
I also request to clearly define group homes and homes for special needs for all residential use.

I have submitted to amend Essa's Township's bylaw to include group homes for all residential zoning. Essa is in support of the amendment. Unfortunately, NVCA denied the requested based on the PPS 2020. I am attaching my letter in response to NVCA.