Miguel Avia Velarde: A Voice for TCHC Tenants
On April 15, 2025, the Tenant Services Committee (TSC) of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) convened its latest meeting, providing a crucial platform for tenant voices on matters directly impacting their communities. Among those who addressed the committee was long-time tenant advocate and Regent Park resident Miguel Avila-Valarde, who made no fewer than eight deputations on a wide range of issues affecting TCHC tenants.
A resident of 220 Oak Street, a 27-storey high-rise on the edge of Regent Park, Miguel has witnessed firsthand the challenges that come with life in aging public housing stock—fragility shaped by years of institutional neglect and bureaucratic inaction. Despite these conditions, he has tirelessly advocated for marginalized tenants, Indigenous communities, and public housing residents across the city.
At this meeting, Miguel raised urgent concerns ranging from tenant safety to administrative processes. Miguel also tackled the financial burden of mandatory tenant insurance for low-income residents and questioned why long-standing tenant leaders like himself are excluded from engagement roles after years of dedicated service. Another key issue was the Tenant Transfer Policy, with Miguel citing his personal experience navigating the red tape and delays facing tenants in unsafe or unsuitable living situations.
His passionate, lived-experience-driven advocacy remains a powerful example of grassroots civic engagement, pushing for tenant rights and system reform from within.
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