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Durham Access to Social Housing (DASH)

Coming soon: A new way to apply and manage your Durham Access to Social Housing (DASH) waitlist application online

Changes are coming soon to how you apply for and manage your DASH waitlist application. We are making things easier and more convenient for you. Please see the video below.

Looking for help with last month's rent, rental or utility arrears? Please see the Housing Stability Program for more information on how we can help. 

If you are already on the DASH wait list:

Log in to DASH

Durham Access to Social Housing (DASH) runs the wait list for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) and modified units at social housing properties and some private landlords in the region.

Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) is a type of housing assistance for low-income households where renters pay on average 30 per cent of their income on rent. Eligible applicants join the DASH Centralized Waiting List for RGI housing. The number of people in need of subsidized housing exceeds the number of units available, resulting in long wait times. 

DASH cannot provide you with your position on the Waitlist and cannot estimate when you will receive an offer of housing. Average wait times for RGI vary according to priority on the wait list, household size, household type (i.e., seniors, single individuals, families), applicant preference, and turnover of units at specific community housing properties or in area municipalities. You are encouraged to consider RGI housing as a long-term housing plan, not a solution to immediate housing needs or emergency situations.

You must apply for RGI or modified housing to be placed on the DASH wait list.

If you or someone in your household needs a unit with accessibility features due to a disability or medical condition, you can apply through DASH. Submit a Medical Request for Modified Unit Application Form, completed by a regulated health care provider, along with your DASH Waitlist Application.

Housing Services will review your request to confirm eligibility. Applicants must be able to live independently, with or without support. This review helps match your needs with available modified units.

Examples of modifications include:

  • Widened doorways
  • Roll-in showers
  • Lowered counters
  • Automatic doors

Submitting this form does not guarantee a unit, but it helps the Region of Durham assess and prioritize your request for accessible housing.

If you or someone in your household needs an extra bedroom due to a medical condition or disability, you can apply through DASH. Submit a Medical Request for Additional Bedroom Application Form, completed by a regulated health care provider, along with your DASH Waitlist Application.

DASH staff will review your request based on local occupancy standards to determine if your household qualifies for a larger unit. Examples of eligible situations include:

  • A spouse needing a separate room due to a chronic condition or disability
  • A room required to store large medical equipment

Please note:

  • Conditions like snoring or sleep apnea alone don’t qualify unless part of a broader medical issue
  • Live-in caregiver requests must include a contract confirming the need for a separate room; caregivers with other housing are not eligible

The form must clearly explain why the extra bedroom is needed to support your household’s health and well-being.

You may be eligible for Special Priority on the DASH wait list if:

  • You are or have been a victim of human trafficking.
  • You are living with someone who is abusing you or your children.
  • You recently stopped living with someone who was abusing you or your children.
  • Your immigration sponsor is abusing you or your children.

You must be willing to live apart from this person forever.

You must give us proof of the abuse from someone that is working with you professionally. We also need proof that you live with or used to live with the person who is abusing you.

Apply for Special Priority

People who are living in an RGI unit that is too large for them are considered overhoused. They must transfer to a smaller unit, and will be offered a transfer before other applicants on the DASH wait list.

If you disagree with a decision about your placement on the DASH wait list, you can appeal to the Regional Review Panel.

Contact Us

The Regional Municipality of Durham
605 Rossland Road East
Whitby, Ontario Canada L1N 6A3

Telephone: 311 (within region limits)
Telephone: 905-668-7711
Toll-Free: 1-800-372-1102
TTY: Use 711

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