RESEARCH SUMMARY SERIES

Building a Human Rights and Youth-Centred Approach to Eviction Law and Practice

Sarah Buhler, JD
Professor, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan

What is this research about?

Evictions are a key driver of housing instability and homelessness in Canada, yet the legal and policy frameworks designed to address them often fail to protect tenants. This project examines eviction prevention in Saskatchewan, focusing on how laws, policies, and practices can be reformed to better safeguard renters. It highlights how upstream legal support and policy interventions can mitigate the risk of homelessness, particularly for low-income households, Indigenous tenants, and other vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted by eviction.

What did the researchers do?

The research team carried out a detailed audit of Saskatchewan’s eviction laws, policies, and infrastructures. They analyzed legislative frameworks, tribunal processes, and existing prevention mechanisms to identify gaps and inconsistencies. In addition, they engaged with frontline service providers, community organizations, and legal experts to gather insights into how the eviction system operates in practice and how it affects tenants. By combining legal analysis with stakeholder perspectives, the study provides both a technical and human-centered understanding of eviction prevention.

What did the researchers find?

Funding

2022 Open Call

Research Focus

Enabling Health, Well-being, and Inclusion

Location

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

  1. Saskatchewan’s eviction laws prioritize efficiency of property recovery over tenant protection, leaving limited space for prevention-oriented outcomes.
  2. Tenants face barriers to accessing legal support and representation, particularly low-income households and Indigenous renters.
  3. There is a lack of integration between housing policy and homelessness prevention frameworks, meaning eviction is often treated as a private landlord–tenant matter rather than a systemic driver of homelessness.
  4. Service providers emphasized the need for upstream support—such as mediation, financial assistance, and legal aid—to prevent eviction before it escalates to formal proceedings.

How can you use this research?

Policymakers can draw on these findings to design more robust eviction-prevention frameworks, aligning tenant protections with homelessness prevention goals. Legal professionals and service providers can use the recommendations to advocate for reforms and expand support for tenants facing housing insecurity.