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Emergency shelter programs and winter warming locations are listed on the Shelters and Warming Centres page. 

Emergency shelter programs

The Region of Durham is legislated by the province of Ontario as a Service System Manager for Housing and Homelessness and designated by the federal government as the Community Entity.

Emergency shelter programs in Durham Region can help you if you don’t have any other place to stay. Funded homeless shelter programs are housing-focused, as part of Durham Region’s plan to address homelessness in our community.

For help with homelessness Support, you can connect:
Email: Homelesshelp@Durham.ca
Phone: 905-668-4113 extension 5510
Toll free: 1-800-372-1102 extension 5510
311 - extension 5510 

Shelter programs also act as Community Access Points to our By-Name List and Coordinated Access System.

Victims of gender-based violence or trafficking who need supports or emergency accommodation have more than one option:

  • Call Victim Services at 905-721-4226 or Ontario Works in Whitby at 905-666-6239 during business hours.

  • Visit the web page Victims of Domestic Violence to access a shelter to accommodate your needs and safety.

Emergency shelter locations in Durham Region

Emergency shelter programs and winter warming locations are listed on the Shelters and Warming Centres page.

Christian Faith Outreach Centre (CFOC) - Doors of Compassion 1635 Dundas Shelter

1635 Dundas St E., Whitby, Ontario L1N 2K9

Intake phone: 365-885-3173

Email: docintake@cfoc.ca

Criteria: Co-ed, pet friendly

Capacity: 45 beds

1635 Dundas site inquiries

Security & Facility inquiries phone: 905-723-9149

Email: 1635security@durham.ca

 

CFOC - Doors of Compassion

158 Harwood Ave S., Ajax, Ontario  L1S 2H6

Intake phone: 365-885-3173

Site phone: 905-619-1109

Email: info@cfoc.ca

Criteria: Co-ed, no pets

Capacity: 20 beds

 

CFOC - Doors of Compassion

Address: Sales Pavilion at Ajax Plaza

27 Station St. (Southwest corner of Harwood Ave. S and Station St.)

Intake phone: 365-885-3173

Site Phone: 289-923-2360

Email: info@cfoc.ca

Criteria: Co-ed, dog friendly

Capacity: 30 beds

 

Cornerstone

133 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa, Ontario  L1H 4G8

Phone: 905-433-0254 or 1-844-433-0254

Fax: 905-433-2363

Email: GeneralInquiry@CornerstoneDurham.com

Criteria: Single men, men with children, couples with children, seniors with extraordinary medical needs that cannot be accommodated in an emergency shelter, no pets

Capacity: 40 beds

 

Durham Youth Services

82 Kings Crescent, Ajax, Ontario  L1S 2M6

Phone: 905-239-9477

Email: contact@durhamyouth.com

Criteria: Youth ages 16 to 24 years old, no pets

Capacity: 10 beds

 

Muslim Welfare Home

425 Dundas St E., Whitby, Ontario  L1N 2J2

Phone: 905-665-0424 or 1-866-666-1115

Email: muslimwelfarecentre@gmail.com

Criteria: Single women, single women with children (boys under 12), no pets

Capacity: 45 beds 

Transportation help to access shelters

Housing outreach agencies can provide transportation help (bus tickets, etc.) for people who need help to get to a shelter program. Offices are only open during business hours, Monday to Friday. If you need help after hours, you can contact the shelter program for help.

Ajax

Community Development Council Durham

905-686-2661

Clarington

John Howard Society

905-623-6814

Oshawa-Whitby

John Howard Society

905-579-8482

Scugog-Uxbridge-Brock

North House

705-432-8654 or 1-877-406-8723

Durham Region Cooling Locations

2024 Community Hot Weather Response Locations for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

If you see someone in need of assistance that is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

If they need assistance, but not an emergency response, call the Durham Regional Police Services Non-Emergency Line: 905-579-1520.

Links to local municipal programs and places to help you stay cool can be found here: Extreme Heat and Humidity - Region of Durham.

 

Local municipal programs and places to help you stay cool

 

Additional Cooling Locations

Ajax

Ajax Hub

Address:

125 Commercial Avenue, Ajax

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Lunch: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dinner: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Brock
Brock Library - Beaverton Branch

Address:

401 Simcoe Street, Beaverton

Hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

 

Brock Library - Sunderland Branch

Address:

41 Albert Street South, Sunderland

Hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: Closed

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

 

Brock Library - Cannington Branch

Address:

38 Laidlaw Street South, Cannington

Hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday: 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

 

Township of Brock Office

Address:

1 Cameron Street East, Cannington

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Clarington

Bowmanville Mall

Address:

243 King Street East, Bowmanville

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  

Clarington Library - Courtice Branch

Address:

2950 Courtice Road, Courtice

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Clarington Town Hall

Address:

40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Clarington Library - Bowmanville Branch

Address:

163 Church Street, Bowmanville

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Courtice Community Complex

Address:

2950 Courtice Road, Courtice

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday to Sunday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex

Address:

2440 Durham Regional Hwy 2, Bowmanville

Hours:

Monday and Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Clarington Library - Newcastle Branch

Address:

150 King Avenue East, Newcastle

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Clarington Community Services

Address:

1780 Rudell Road, Newcastle

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Clarington Library - Orono Branch

Address:

127 Church Street, Orono

Hours:

Monday: 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

Oshawa

Oshawa City Hall

Address:

50 Centre Street South, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

Community Resource Centre

Address:

200 John Street West, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to  4 p.m.

 

Oshawa Library - Delpark Homes Centre Branch

Address:

1161 Harmony Road North, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday to Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Oshawa Library - Jess Hann Branch

Address:

199 Wentworth Street West, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

 

Oshawa Library - John Aker Northview Branch

Address:

250 Beatrice Street East, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Oshawa Library - McLaughlin Branch

Address:

65 Bagot Street, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

 

Oshawa Centre Mall

Address:

419 King Street West, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Civic Recreation Complex

Address:

99 Thornton Road South, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

South Oshawa Community Centre

Address:

1455 Cedar Street, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Back Door Mission Hub

Address:

66 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food Pantry: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Washrooms: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Showers: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Pickering

Pickering Library - Central Branch

Address:

1 The Esplanade, Pickering

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Pickering Library - George Ashe Branch

Address:

470 Kingston Road, Pickering

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

The Shops at Pickering City Centre

Address:

1355 Kingston Road, Pickering

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Pickering City Hall

Address:

1 The Esplanade, Pickering

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Pickering Library - Claremont Branch

Address:

4941 Old Brock Road, Claremont

Hours:

Monday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: Closed

Saturday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

Scugog

Scugog Library

Address:

231 Water Street, Port Perry

Hours:

Monday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Township of Scugog Office

Address:

181 Perry Street, Port Perry

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Scugog Community Recreation Centre

Address:

1655 Reach Street, Port Perry

Hours:

Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Uxbridge

Uxbridge Public Library

Address:

9 Toronto Street South, Uxbridge

Hours:

Monday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Uxbridge Town Hall

Address:

51 Toronto St S, Uxbridge

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

North Durham Resource Centre (North House)

Address:

2 Elgin Park Drive, Uxbridge

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Whitby

Region of Durham Headquarters

Address:

605 Rossland Road East, Whitby

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Whitby Mall

Address:

1615 Dundas Street East, Whitby

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About homelessness in Durham Region

Commitment to ending chronic homelessness in Durham Region
The Regional Municipality of Durham is committed to ending chronic homelessness in our community. We are part of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness’s Built for Zero Canada program, which is a nation-wide effort that helps communities end chronic homelessness. Through the collection of real-time data, the Region and its service providers can better address homelessness in Durham and track our progress on homelessness reduction.
  What are housing-focused shelter programs?
The Region developed a housing-focused approach for shelters in our community. This means that shelters are part of a process to help someone be housed and end their homelessness. In housing-focused shelters and outreach programs, all supports, services and strategies lead to housing, as opposed to just managing the symptoms of homelessness.

From the moment someone enters shelter, there are supports and a plan to ensure a safe and appropriate exit from shelter. Shelter programs are part of the process of helping people end their homelessness while helping to meet their basic needs. You can learn more about how housing-focused shelters in Durham Region operate through our Service Standards.

OrgCode Consulting, Inc. and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) partnered to create guidelines for shelters to become housing-focused, as part of the Canadian Shelter Transformation Network. You can learn more about  housing-focused shelters from the Canadian Shelter Transformation Network.

Shelter programs focus on short-term stays and have a commitment to helping people exit the shelter to housing. From the moment you access shelter, staff will ask you about your housing plan and work with you to put that plan in action. Everyone in shelter needs to be working on their housing plan as much as possible.

You can contact the shelter program directly to start the intake process.

 By-Name List and Co-ordinated Access System
To help streamline access to housing and supports, the Region uses a By-Name List and Co-ordinated Access System. The By-Name List is a list of people currently experiencing homelessness, who provide consent to receive supports, and are engaged with the support system. The Co-ordinated Access System is used to connect people on the By-Name List with wrap-around supports and housing to help end their homelessness. People must consent to services before services can be provided.
 Street Outreach Strategy

The Regional Street Outreach Program is an engagement team who assist unsheltered individuals with meeting basic needs and ensuring people are connected with Durham Regions By-Name List (BNL) and Coordinated Access System.  The Street Outreach Team works on a 24/7 basis to ensure the needs of Durham’s most vulnerable population are met.  These supports can include; collaboration with system service providers and system navigation, encampment wellness and relocation supports, referrals to community agencies, transportation support and wellness checks. 

Homelessness Outreach Teams - Contact Information

 Primary Care Outreach Program (PCOP)
The Primary Care Outreach Program (PCOP) provides outreach services year-round to vulnerable populations in Durham Region. The PCOP is a partnership between Durham’s Health and Social Services departments and consists of an advanced care paramedic and social worker. The advanced care paramedic provides physical assessments, vital signs, wound care and blood sugar monitoring, while the social worker provides assessment and service navigation. Together, they coordinate referrals to community supports.
 How can I help?

If you see a vulnerable resident in crisis, please dial 9-1-1 and emergency services will respond to the situation.

Printable How Can I Help? guide.

I see a person sleeping without shelter. Who do I call?

Contact the Region of Durham’s Homelessness Outreach Program:

  • Call 311 and press 4 for Homelessness and Housing; or call 905-666-6239 or 1 888-721-0622 and extension 5510.
  • E-mail HomelessHelp@durham.ca.
  • Call the Primary Care Outreach Program (PCOP) at 289-979-9428 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
    • For information on the PCOP, visit durham.ca/AboutPCOP.

I see someone who may be struggling with their mental health. Who do I call?

If you have urgent concerns about their safety or the safety of others, call 911 and say you are calling about a mental health emergency.

If it is not urgent, contact:

  • The Durham Mental Health Services’ Crisis Access and Linkage Line at 905-666-0483 or 1-800-742-1890, seven days a week, 24 hours per day.
  • The Primary Care Outreach Program (PCOP) at 289-979-9428, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • The Mental Health Outreach Program (MHOP) at 289-927-1979, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I see someone outside in winter. Where are the warming centres?

Warming centre information is listed on the Shelters and Warming Centres page. 

I see needles/drug items in a public place. Who do I call?

Call the appropriate municipality.

  • Ajax 905-683-2951, Brock 705-432-2355, Clarington 905-623-3379, Oshawa 905-436-3311, Pickering 905-683-7575, Scugog 905-985-7346, Uxbridge 416-990-1964, Whitby 905-430-4300.

I see someone committing a crime (for example, dealing drugs, damaging property or being violent). Who do I call?

  • If you need urgent help, call 911.
  • For non-emergencies, where there is no urgent threat to a person or property, call 905-579-1520.

Who can I call with anonymous information about a crime?

Call Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.

How can I learn about the issues in my community?

  • Opioid crisis: how to help and resources to support recovery, visit durham.ca/Opioids
  • Homelessness in Canada: bfzcanada.ca/video-library/

How can I donate to Winter Warming? What items are most needed?

  • To donate, please contact HomelessHelp@durham.ca. They will provide you with further instructions on how to proceed with your donation.

    Items that are currently in high demand include:

    • Hats
    • Mitts
    • Socks
    • Chapstick
    • Hand warmers
    • Long underwear
    • Sweatshirt
    • Hoodies
    • Boots
    • Coats
    • Track pants
    • Bandages
    • Milk bags (these are used as boot liners)

    These items are essential for keeping our vulnerable community members warm during the winter season.

Point-in-Time Count 2024

The Point-in-Time (PiT) Count is a national effort to measure and better understand homelessness. Communities organize their local PiT Count for one 24-hour period, to count and survey people experiencing homelessness within a geographical area. The goal of the PiT Count is to better understand the scope of national homelessness, and better understand and support those experiencing it. 

The Regional Municipality of Durham collaborated with community partners to conduct the 2024 PiT Count from November 18 to 19, 2024. The information gathered through the PiT will be used to understand the profile of those experiencing homelessness, inform evidence-based programming and service planning, and provide individuals experiencing homelessness the opportunity to vocalize what supports and services will help them the most. 

The PiT Count was conducted by outreach workers, shelter staff, and volunteers, inclusive of those with lived experience of homelessness. The PiT Count included individuals living: 

  • Outdoors and in encampments. 

  • Shelters. 

  • Drop-in centres. 

  • Health care centres. 

  • Transitional shelters and housing. 

  • Hiddenly homeless. 

A successful count enables our community to: 

  • Ensure the accuracy of the By-name List of individuals experiencing homelessness. 

  • Identify the characteristics and needs of both visible and hidden homeless populations. 

  • Recognize areas of progress and pinpoint where additional efforts are needed, both geographically and among different subpopulations.  

  • Raise awareness of homelessness, and strategies to support those experiencing it. 

Durham Region Encampment Strategy
Durham Region Encampment Strategy
Research Reports & Policy Publications

Tim Welch Consulting Inc. Report - November 24, 2023

Integrated Homelessness System Action Plan

 

Policy Paper on Homelessness and Related Challenges - 2023

The Policy Paper on Homelessness and Related Challenges outlines the current challenges in Durham Region, community bright spots that are making a difference, and opportunities for advocacy to the federal and provincial government.


OrgCode Consulting Inc. Report - December 8, 2022
A Renewed Homelessness and Housing Support Service System for the Regional Municipality of Durham

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