Region of Durham strives for everyone to have a place to call home

Whitby, Ontario – A home is a basic need, essential for good health, employment, to participate in society and more. Yet, as of September 2024, more than 811 people are experiencing homelessness in the Durham Region, according to the Durham By-Name List.

In honour of National Housing Day on November 22, the Region of Durham is bringing together community and affordable housing providers, developers, landlords and support agencies to discuss housing challenges and potential solutions. Today’s networking event also marks the progress made in addressing barriers to housing.

Affordable rental housing is a critical resource that supports those living with low or moderate income, helps to prevent homelessness, and offers a permanent place to live for residents across Durham. This is why the Region of Durham supports more than 7,000 households to maintain affordable housing through housing benefits, rent supplements and community housing units. Some Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation properties are being redeveloped, which will increase the number of units, and housing opportunities are being explored at the former Ritson School site.

Through the At Home Incentive Program, the Region supports public and private sector partners with developing affordable rental housing. The Region provided $17.7 million in funding to help create 209 affordable rental units in Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering, Uxbridge and Whitby. The third Call for Applications to the At Home Incentive Program closes on December 11, with $5.75 million in funding available.

There are many barriers to housing, including limited income, employment-related barriers, past trauma and/or health-related barriers, among others. To help overcome barriers, the Region developed a housing-focused approach, where all supports, services, and strategies lead to housing. This includes emergency shelter programs, which are part of the process of helping people exit homelessness while meeting their basic needs.

The Region also offers transitional housing with supports at Beaverton Heights and the Oshawa Micro-homes. Transitional housing is time-limited accommodation with supports for developing life skills and requires participants to work toward their goals and overcome barriers to housing. There are limits on how long a person can stay, as the purpose is to help someone successfully transition into permanent housing.

Winter is quickly approaching and the Region’s Winter Warming Plan is in place to support those living without shelter. Warming centres will be open from December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, to offer warmth from the cold. During Cold Weather Alerts issued by the Durham Region Health Department, emergency shelters will increase the number of mats/cots and safe spaces and, if necessary, may use hotel accommodations; shelters remain open during the day.

Durham’s Street Outreach Teams are diligently working to ensure unsheltered residents have access to supports and services, including access to emergency shelters. Street Outreach workers are from a variety of organizations and services and meet with unsheltered residents to obtain their consent to receiving supports.

The Region of Durham remains committed to helping all residents have a safe place to call home.

For homelessness support, please contact HomelessHelp@Durham.ca or call 311 extension 5510; 905-668-4113 extension 5510, or toll free at 1-800-372-1102 extension 5510.

Quote

“National Housing Day recognizes the critical role of housing, and highlights the work being done across Canada to improve access to safe, accessible and affordable housing. It is an especially challenging time to find a place to call home, and the Region of Durham is working to increase the supply of affordable rental housing to address the urgent need.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO, Region of Durham

Quick Facts

• Durham Regional Council passed a resolution in 2022 identifying Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation properties to be considered for revitalization. By redeveloping these properties, the Region of Durham will provide people with more, higher quality affordable housing, and create mixed income communities with market rent, affordable and rent-geared-to-income homes. For more information, visit durham.ca/CommunityHousingProject.
• The Ritson School Project will see the renovation of the former elementary school building to be used for community programs and will examine the unused lands on the school property for opportunities to include mixed-use, sustainably built housing. For more information, visit durham.ca/RitsonSchool.
• The At Home Incentive Program (AHIP) supports the development of affordable rental housing in Durham Region by providing capital funding and Regional planning services. To be eligible, projects must provide a minimum of five affordable housing units and include one of the following: new construction; conversion of non-residential buildings to purpose-built rental housing; addition of new affordable buildings/units to existing sites/buildings; community housing redevelopment that increases the supply of affordable housing units. For more information, visit durham.ca/AHIP.
• Beaverton Heights is a 47-unit transitional housing residence that provides accommodation and access to wraparound services to help overcome barriers to housing. For more information, visit durham.ca/BeavertonHeights.
• Oshawa Micro-homes are a pilot project in central Oshawa that feature 10 units for temporary, transitional housing with supports. For more information, visit durham.ca/OshawaMicrohomes.
• 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. For more information, visit durham.ca/WinterWarming.

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