Megan Ruttan
Co-Founder, Waterloo Region ACORN
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Meg Ruttan works at the intersection of climate and housing. Her family has been resisting eviction since 2017 and she has recently used her experiences to co-found the Waterloo Region chapter of ACORN. |
Presentation
Meg Ruttan is a co-founder of Waterloo Region ACORN and a housing advocate. She emphasizes that their fight is for survival rather than passion, as housing insecurity affects a significant number of tenants in the Waterloo region. Their mission is to give a voice to low and moderate-income tenants who are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis.
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The organization, ACORN, aims to bring about systemic changes by working on tenant issues, particularly focusing on "renovictions." They are pushing for a rent eviction bylaw that would protect tenants from being evicted due to renovations. Meg describes how landlords exploit loopholes to evict tenants, thereby contributing to the housing crisis.
In addition to policy changes, ACORN is also a platform for community support, especially for those facing the emotional trauma associated with eviction. Although not a formal mental health support system, the organization allows people to share their stories, thus creating a network of support. They are planning rallies and direct actions to gain public attention and put pressure on policymakers.
In addition to policy changes, ACORN is also a platform for community support, especially for those facing the emotional trauma associated with eviction. Although not a formal mental health support system, the organization allows people to share their stories, thus creating a network of support. They are planning rallies and direct actions to gain public attention and put pressure on policymakers.
(2023) Activists start local ACORN tenants’ union chapter
The Record News (2023) Local Activists start tenants' union with ACORN Community Edition |
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