What To Do
Prevention
Prevention is the first step to ensuring a Housing Unit Takeover does not happen or reoccur. Use these tools to prevent a HUT from happening to you.
Videos: Prevention of HUTs, What Makes a Tenant Vulnerable
Intervention
Whether you have a suspicion or you know a HUT is happening, intervention is tricky but necessary to ensure the HUT is resolved properly.
Videos: Intervention of HUTs
Recovery
After a HUT has taken place and has been resolved, many people need additional supports due to trauma or PTSD that may be a result of the HUT. Take steps to ensure a HUT does not happen again.
Videos: Recovery of HUTs, Consequences of a HUT
Prevention
Prevention is the first step to addressing Housing Unit Takeovers. Identify your own unique vulnerabilities and connect with organizations that address those vulnerabilities. Maintaining a good relationship with your support worker, landlord, and local community relations officer can be crucial to preventing a HUT or resolving one quickly. It is important to educate yourself about HUTs so you can know the warning signs and protect yourself and your home.
Prevention Tips
Maintain a good relationship with your worker or friends so you can have a strong support person to help you if you find yourself experiencing a HUT.
Figure out what you want from your home, what is important about maintaining your housing, and think about what you need to do to achieve that.
Try setting up personal boundaries. Think of some house rules that all guests must abide by in your home and post them up in your living space. Think of some things you value in or about your unit to remind you that your home should be a safe and private space. This could be a hobby that you practice or a family member that likes to come and visit.
Have an emergency plan ready in case there are warning signs.
Find a similar ethnic group or local community groups that share your interests and participate in their activities. Isolation is one of the biggest risk factors associated with HUTs, so try to stay connected to the community in whatever way you can.
What makes a tenant vulnerable?
High-risk factors for HUTs include:
Poverty and low income, isolation, mental health or addiction issues, physical or cognitive disabilities, women with children, and elderly people
Watch the video for more information about tenant vulnerabilities.
Intervention
Whether you suspect a Housing Unit Takeover or know that one is happening, intervention can be very difficult, and you must keep your personal safety in mind at all times. Intervention should not be done alone, but rather by utilizing different resources and services to uniquely address each situation. Meet with your support worker or a friend somewhere other than your home and make a plan to address the HUT. Many people do not want to go to the police due to the perceived consequences, but it may be worth finding out if your area has a neighbourhood community officer. However, if you believe you are in serious and immediate danger, go straight to the police.
Intervention Tips
Do not discuss the HUT in your unit or building as it may be dangerous and others may be listening. Meet with your support worker or friend one-on-one somewhere other than the unit.
Learn your rights and connect with support agencies that can help you to assert them.
Think about how something you care about is being affected and use it as motivation to resolve the takeover.
Refer to any previous conversations you have had about HUTs, and what plans, goals, or boundaries you set at that time.
Work with your support worker or friend to make the environment as uncomfortable as possible for the perpetrator by having them visit more frequently at non-scheduled times, including during the evening when more activity takes place. This could take the form of responding to noise complaints or other related calls.
If possible, relocate to a safe location, especially if you believe you are in danger.
Recovery
An experience with a HUT can come to an end in various ways such as the predators leaving or being forced out of the unit, the tenant being evicted, or the tenant fleeing to the streets or shelter system. All of these experiences will impact the victim’s mental health, and recovery steps must be taken. If you are recovering from a HUT, you may experience trauma and stress and may be facing eviction or criminal charges and need support. Connect yourself with services that address your unique experiences, such as mental health supports, free legal clinics, and cleaning and unit repairs. If you are unsure of how to find these services, as your support worker or a close friend to help. Serial victims are common, and you will still have the same vulnerabilities as before. Refer to the Prevention Tips to ensure a HUT does not happen again.
Recovery Tips
Think about what supports and services you might need and work with your support worker or friend to come up with a wellness plan that will help you recover.
Refer to prevention tips to ensure a HUT does not happen again. Create a safety plan in case you suspect that another HUT may occur (who to contact and what to do.)
Get the locks changed on your unit, or move to another unit if that is a possibility.
If you are fearful of the perpetrator returning, consider looking for other housing options. However, be aware of the impact that moving could have on your stability and mental health.
Ask your worker or a close friend to check on you more frequently.
Ensure the unit is cleaned and check where repairs may be needed. You can ask your worker or a friend to help with this if you feel you are unable to go to the landlord.
Look for rent banks or stipends that can help you to pay rent if you are in arrears.
Consequences of a HUT
Some common consequences of a HUT are:
Eviction
Criminal charges
Mental health, trauma, and stress-related issues
Watch our video for more information.