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Welcome Mat

Homeless Shelters

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Housing-focused shelter programs

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 commitment to ending homelessness in our community.

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 Emergency Shelters for Victims of Violence to access a shelter to accommodate your needs and safety.


For help with homelessness Support, you can connect:
Email: Homelesshelp@Durham.ca
905-666-6239 or 1 888-721-0622 extension 5510
311 – press 4 for Homelessness and Housing
Housing-focused shelter locations in Durham Region

Christian Faith Outreach Centre (CFOC)

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

Phone: 905-619-1109 or 289-988-0171

Email: info@cfoc.ca

Criteria: Both men and women, no pets

Capacity: 20 beds

 

Christian Faith Outreach Centre (CFOC)

Address: Sales Pavilion at Ajax Plaza

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

Phone: 289-923-2360

Email: info@cfoc.ca

Criteria: Both men and women, support animals (with papers)

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, couple 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 Winter Warming

In collaboration with the Durham Region Health Department and the Homelessness Support System, the Region of Durham has implemented a Winter Warming Plan to provide support to individuals without shelter during the winter months. The Durham Region Health Department issues Extreme Cold Weather Alerts when the temperature is expected to reach -15 degrees Celsius or colder, and/or when the wind chill is expected to reach -20 or colder. When this alert is activated, housing-focused emergency shelters are required to expand their services by increasing the number of available mats/cots, and safe spaces. This can include utilizing hotel accommodations, if necessary, to ensure that no individual is denied shelter from the elements. Additionally, the shelters remain open throughout the day to accommodate individuals seeking warmth and shelter.

When people lose their homes, shelter programs provide essential assistance in supporting them on their journey to finding permanent housing and ensuring their basic needs are met. From the moment someone enters a housing-focused shelter or outreach program, they are given support and a plan tailored to their needs to achieve housing stability rather than simply managing their homelessness. Every support, service, and tool offered is directed toward helping individuals and families exit the shelter and return to a safe and appropriate living situation.

 

More information on health risks associated with exposure to cold weather and how you can protect yourself can be found at Extreme Cold - Region of Durham.

Housing-focused shelters

Single Men, Male Sole Support Parents, and Couples with Children

Cornerstone

Address: 133 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa

Phone: 905-433-0254 or 1-844-433-024

Capacity: 40 beds (Cornerstone uses an additional motel program to support male sole support parents and couples with children and Seniors)

 

Single Females and Female Sole Support Parents

Muslim Welfare Home

Address: 425 Dundas St. E., Whitby              

Phone: 905-665-0424 or 1-866-666-1115

Capacity: 45 beds (Muslim Welfare Home uses an additional motel program to support female sole support parents)

 

Youth (Ages 16-24)

Durham Youth Services

Address: 82 Kings Cres., Ajax              

Phone: 905-239-9477       

Capacity: 10 beds

 

Co-Ed Adults

Christian Faith Outreach Centre

Address: 158 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax              

Phone: 905-619-1109 or 289-988-0171       

Capacity: 50 beds

 

Additional Warming Centre Capacity

Durham Region is implementing warming centres to offer temporary shelter from the elements to provide additional space for people experiencing homelessness:

 

During the winter, family motel spaces will expand

Family motel programs in Durham Region are expanding the number of available rooms to support the increase in families experiencing homelessness.

 

Female Sole Support Parents

Muslim Welfare Home

Phone: 905-665-0424 or 1-866-666-1115

 

Male Sole Support Parents and Couples with Children

Cornerstone

Phone: 905-433-0254 or 1-844-433-0254

 

Ajax and Pickering

Dedicated Advocacy Resource Support (DARS) Winter Warming (During inclement weather) 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.  

Address: 928 Liverpool Rd, Pickering (Peace Lutheran Church (PLC))

Phone: (289)-314-2261

Criteria: Both men and women, pets welcome         

Capacity: 25 spaces

Opening Date: Open

 

DARS flag system:

The program will use the flag pole at the Peace Lutheran Church to let community members know when the program is open.

  • Blue Flag at the top of the pole: warming program is open, please come in.
  • Blue Flag at half-mast: the warming program will open at 8 p.m.
  • Blue flag lowered: the program is closed.

 

Oshawa

Do Unto Others (DUO) Winter Warming - open 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Address: 446 Simcoe St. S., Unit D, Oshawa

Phone: 905-213-9580

Criteria: Men and women, pets welcome

Capacity: 50 to 70 spaces

Open: Open

**Additional space to open in January***

 

Backdoor Mission – open 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Address: 66 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa

Phone: 905-728-4664

Criteria: Clinic Clients of Mission United

Capacity: 15 beds

Opening Date: Open

 

Whitby

Christian Faith Outreach Centre Winter Warming - open 8:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. (Durham Region Headquarters)

Address: 605 Rossland Road East, Regional Headquarters building

Phone: 365-885-3173 

Criteria: Men and women

Capacity: 30 spaces

Opening Date: December 4

 

North Durham - Brock, Scugog Township, Uxbridge

Outreach Workers from Community Living Durham North - Housing and Homelessness Support Program will be coordinating motel assistance directly for people residing in the North who cannot be accommodated through the housing-focused emergency shelters or overnight warming spaces.

Their office line is 905-852-5919 and they can also be emailed at hhsp@cldn.ca

 

North House can provide transportation help (i.e., bus tickets, etc.) for people residing in the North to access housing-focused emergency shelters or overnight warming programs.

They can be reached at:

  • 289-640-1929 (main office line)
  • 705-432-8654
  • 1-877-406-8723

Offices are only open during business hours, Monday to Friday. If you need help after hours, you can contact the shelter program directly for assistance.

 

  • More information about Housing-Focused Emergency Shelters and Winter Warming Spaces can be found at Homeless Shelters - Region of Durham.
  • More information on health risks associated with exposure to cold weather and how you can protect yourself can be found at Extreme Cold - Region of Durham.

*A contingency plan is in place should further space be needed and will be reviewed on a regular basis.

Transportation

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

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
Durham’s Street Outreach Teams are made up of staff from various organizations in Durham. Outreach teams are working to ensure unsheltered residents have access to the supports and services they need, including access to housing-focused shelter programs. Street Outreach Workers, from a variety of organizations and services, are meeting 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.
 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.

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

Warming centre information is listed on this webpage.

I see someone asking for money or throwing away needles/drug items. Who do I call?

Call the non-emergency police phone number at 905-579-1520, seven days per week, 24 hours per day.

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/
Research Reports & Policy Publications
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

North Durham – Brock, Scugog Township, Uxbridge

 

Outreach Workers from Community Living Durham North - Housing and Homelessness Support Programwill be coordinating motel assistance directly for people residing in the Northwho cannot be accommodated through the housing-focused emergency shelters or overnight warming spaces. Their office line is 905-852-5919 and they can also be emailed at hhsp@cldn.ca

 

North House can provide transportation help (i.e., bus tickets, etc.) for people residing in the North to access housing-focused emergency shelters or overnight warming programs.

They can be reached at:

  • 289-640-1929 (main office line)
  • 705-432-8654
  • 1-877-406-8723

 

Offices are only open during business hours, Monday to Friday. If you need help after hours, you can contact the shelter program directly for assistance.

 

  • More information about Housing-Focused Emergency Shelters and Winter Warming Spaces can be found at Homeless Shelters - Region of Durham.
  • More information on health risks associated with exposure to cold weather and how you can protect yourself can be found at Extreme Cold - Region of Durham.

 

*A contingency plan is in place should further space be needed and will be reviewed on a regular basis.

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