Toronto is cracking down on fraternity and sorority houses in an effort to close a loophole that allowed these types of student housing to operate unlicensed. With the vote, 19 fraternity and sorority houses in and around the Annex neighbourhood will be subjected to the same standards as any rooming houses, a move officials say is strictly about improving safety. City council voted this week to subject fraternities and sororities to licensing rules as other rental housing in the city. “There’s a void there.”Article Continued BelowLast year, city staff conducted a review of the existing fraternity and sorority houses, both to evaluate their compliance with safety standards and to gather feedback from community about any concerns. When sexual violence occurs in those spaces, there is an added pressure to not speak out,” reads part of a letter written by a number of local anti-gender-based violence organizations.

Source: thestar May 25, 2018 22:18 UTC