Indian woman who is facing eviction from TCHC due to rental arrears and has contacted the OCHE to help avoid eviction.

Who We Are

Who We Are

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Someone you can turn to

OCHE stands for the Office of the Commissioner of Housing Equity. 

Our job is to help tenants who are facing eviction for arrears of rent from Toronto Community Housing (TCHC).

Our Principles

The OCHE operates on the principles of integrity, impartiality and independence. These three words reflect the core values of the OCHE and guide all that we do.

Integrity

Impartiality

Independence

The OCHE team

Our Mandate

The OCHE’s mandate is eviction prevention for senior and vulnerable tenants living in Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) who have arrears (unpaid rent).  We also provide TCHC with recommendations when a senior or vulnerable tenant has lost their rental subsidy.

Terms Of Reference (PDF)

Who We Report To

The OCHE was created by the TCHC Board of Directors, and is an arms-length accountability office for TCHC.  The Commissioner reports directly to the TCHC Board of Directors through the Tenant Services Committee of TCHC.

A representative from the OCHE writing up a plan to help a TCHC tenant avoid eviction due to unpaid rent.

Our history

The OCHE’s mandate is eviction prevention for TCHC seniors and vulnerable tenants.  We work to support TCHC and tenants in accordance with the Terms of Reference (PDF). Since opening on April 1, 2014, the OCHE has achieved a high-level of eviction avoidance, and results are reported quarterly to the Board of Directors through the Tenant Services Committee.  Details of the OCHE’s work can be found in our Quarterly Reports.

Quarterly Reports

LeSage Report

The Office of the Commissioner of Housing Equity (“OCHE”) was created in response to the death of a senior tenant who failed to complete his annual Household Income and Assets Review Form, lost his Rent-Geared-to-Income (“RGI”) subsidy and was evicted and passed away.  An inquiry was conducted and in 2010, Justice LeSage recommended a new independent office be created and named the Commissioner of Housing Equity.

View Report (PDF)

Housing at Risk

Following the LeSage Report, The City of Toronto Ombudsman opened their own investigation into TCHC’s eviction process and, in June 2013, agreed on the need for the OCHE.

View Report (PDF)

Were it not for this office, my family and I would have been left homeless.  OCHE interventions, mainly in the form of liaison, were integral to keeping us housed. 

- Jaycel Murphy

Cynthia Summers, the leader of the OCHE, and one of the people who helps TCHC tenants avoid eviction due to unpaid rent.

Inaugural Commissioner of Housing Equity, Cynthia L. Summers

Cynthia Summers served as Toronto Community Housing’s first Commissioner of Housing Equity from 2014 to 2022. Cynthia took an idea and turned it into a reality, building a strong foundation of fairness and advocacy at OCHE, which will carry on long into the future.

Over Cynthia's eight years leading OCHE, Cynthia's commitment to tenants was been unparalleled and together with her team she had significant positive impact. To learn more about her achievements at OCHE, visit our newsroom to read a statement by Timothy Murphy, Chair, Toronto Community Housing Board of Directors.

Cynthia left the office of the Commissioner of Housing Equity on August 22, 2022, taking on an exciting new chapter in her career. We are grateful for her commitment to our communities and wish her well in the future.

Meet the Team

INTEGRITY

IMPARTIALITY

INDEPENDENCE