Downtown Oshawa Support

The following are actions that we are taking or have completed:

• Reviewing the concentrated support services offered by the Region and community partners, identifying gaps and duplication of services, and taking steps to help all involved.
• Creating a Community Code of Conduct for recipients of support services and developed a Street Outreach and Encampment Strategy for Durham Region.
• Initiating prioritized street, park and private property cleanup. The Region is cost sharing (50 per cent, up to $156,000) with the City an enhanced cleaning program for the 2022 calendar year.
• Working closely with Lakeridge Health on addiction and treatment services through a Street Outreach Team.
• Developing an updated local opioid response plan.
• Launched an awareness campaign aimed to help residents further understand how stigma creates barriers and prevents people who use drugs from getting the help they need.
• Continuing DRPS proactive presence.
• Continuing proactive enforcement of the property standards by-law.
• Working with community agencies to reinforce our commitment to being a housing-focused community by expanding housing-first initiatives.
• Working with all Task Force partners to support enhanced communications and dialogue with area businesses and residents
• Providing regular updates on our collective actions taken to reduce chronic homelessness in Durham.
• In April 2023, Durham Region Health Department provided updates to Regional Council on Benzodiazepines and Xylazine as well as Mental Health and Opioids in Durham Region.
• Durham Region Health Department and Lakeridge Health provided a presentation to Health and Social Services Committee regarding Local Mental Health and Addictions Services Updates at its May 4, 2023 meeting.  
• In July 2022, Durham Region Health Department moved its oral health clinic to Oshawa in order to expand its services and better meet the needs of the community. Oshawa has the greatest proportion of seniors aged 65 and older living in low-income households in Durham Region. The clinic relocated to Midtown Mall at 200 John St. W. in Oshawa.
• In June 2022, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Symposium was held virtually. The symposium focused on the combined responsibility of all sectors in addressing the escalation of gun violence and crime severity across the GTHA.
• In June 2022, a manager-level working group was established to support the objectives identified by the Senior Leadership Task Force.
• In January 2022, Regional Chief Administrative Officer and senior leaders from the Durham Region Social Services Department and Health Department, Durham Region Police Services and Lakeridge Health presented to Oshawa Council on the complex issues facing the downtown.
• In November 2021, Regional Council endorsed the Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan. The CSWB Plan creates a foundational human services plan and framework for the shared responsibility of community safety and well-being. It aligns existing plans and work to help share best practices, realize efficiencies and avoid duplication.
• In September 2021, the Task Force hosted a virtual Town Hall for the downtown Oshawa business community. Watch the virtual Town Hall presentation and view the Downtown Oshawa Virtual Town Hall PowerPoint presentation.
• In August 2021, a joint statement from Regional Chair John Henry and Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter on downtown Oshawa was released.

Durham Region homelessness funding information.

Housing-focused shelter programs: Durham Region shelter programs are housing-focused, as part of our commitment to reduce chronic homelessness in our community. Shelter programs also act as Community Access Points to our By-Name List and Coordinated Access System.

Homeless Hubs and Street Outreach: Homeless support hubs and Durham’s Street Outreach Team help ensure that unsheltered residents have access to the supports and services they need, including access to housing-focused shelter programs. 

• Street Outreach Workers meet with unsheltered residents across Durham Region to obtain their consent to add them to our By-Name List and connect them with a dedicated case manager, who will help them access supports and services.
• With many services in one location, hub models can help people stay connected to available supports, including income and employment support, housing outreach, health services, etc. These hubs also act as Community Access Points for Durham’s By-Name List and Co-ordinated Access System.
• Durham's Quality By-Name List Dashboard, May 2022.
• Built For Zero Report Card, August 2022.

Housing Supports: Housing supports provide help to those who are homeless, trying to find housing, or those with housing that does not meet their needs. Support is also available to individuals being evicted or worried they will be evicted.

Primary Care Outreach Program (PCOP): This program is a partnership between the Durham Region Health Department and Durham Region Social Services. It is a mobile unit that provides outreach services, including mental health support, to vulnerable populations. For more information, contact RMD.PCOP@durham.ca or call 289-979-9428.

John Howard Society of Durham Region – Harm Reduction/Project X-Change: This Harm Reduction program aims to reduce indiscriminate disposal in public areas and use of infected items. The program provides access to sterile needles and other single-use sterile items, helps with referrals to a variety of services and shares information.

Mental Health Support Unit: Durham Region provides ongoing funding for the Mental Health Support Unit, a partnership with Lakeridge Health to employ three nurses to support DRPS.

Cold Warning and Information System (CWIS) and Heat Warning and Information System (HWIS): During winter months, when the temperature reaches below -15°C and/or a wind chill of -20°C or colder, and during summer months when temperatures are expected to be at least 31°C during the day and overnight temperatures are at least 20°C or Humidex is at least 40, Durham Region Health Department initiates an extreme Cold Weather Alert or Heat Alert. When this alert is initiated, shelters may expand their services by adding additional mats/cots and using hotel space as needed to ensure no one is turned away. During Cold Weather Alerts, housing-focused shelters remain open during the day so that people may stay inside.

Back Door Mission: Durham Region Social Services case managers are on-site at Mission United (Back Door Mission) to provide financial assistance, harm reduction kits, housing outreach and referrals to the unsheltered residents seeking support and assistance.

Homelessness and Housing Support Service System planning in Durham Region: A summary of the scope of work

Durham Region Opioid Response Plan: Status Report, June 2018

Durham Region Opioid Information System – updated weekly

The Durham Region Opioid Task Force’s updated Opioid Response Plan, 2022  

Consumption and Treatment Services Community Consultation, 2019

DRHD Opioid Consultation Report, 2019

Status Report Durham Region Opioid Response Plan, 2018

Durham’s Homelessness Support and Coordinated Access System

• Housing-focused shelter programs: Durham Region shelter programs are housing-focused, as part of our commitment to reduce chronic homelessness in our community. Shelter programs also act as Community Access Points to our By-Name List and Coordinated Access System.

Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

• The Regional CSWB – The Area Municipal Working Group helps identify and address local priorities related to community safety and well-being.
• The Searchable Program and Strategy Catalogue identifies programs, strategies and work completed or currently underway by the Region of Durham, as it relates to the priority risk areas identified through the CSWB Plan.
• The Regional CSWB Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Regional CAO and DRPS Chief has been established to ensure the plan is implemented collaboratively with guidance and direction from system leaders and subject matter experts across the region. This group will ensure an integrated approach to identifying and addressing local priorities related to community safety and well-being.

Oshawa Micro-Homes Pilot Project 

Revitalization strategy for downtown Oshawa

Respect Gets Respect Workshop Summary