Durham Region ensuring access to washrooms, showers and accommodations for unsheltered residents

Whitby, Ontario – As the COVID-19 pandemic has seen most public spaces close, the Region of Durham is working with municipal partners and community agencies to ensure that unsheltered residents have access to essential services, such as washrooms, showers and a safe place to sleep.

Washroom and shower access

Durham Region municipalities are stepping up to provide vital services to unsheltered residents:

• The Town of Ajax has opened the Ajax Hygiene Hub. A first for Ajax, the hub will serve unsheltered residents at the Ajax Community Centre (75 Centennial Rd.). This facility will provide shower and washroom access; and VHA Home Healthcare will provide information, referrals and supports to homeless residents who access this site.
• The City of Oshawa is supporting a community hub at the Back Door Mission, which offers unsheltered residents access to washroom and shower facilities, onsite health supports, mental health and addictions supports, COVID-19 screening and testing, food boxes, housing outreach supports and service navigation, transportation to the recovery centre and isolation hotel spaces. Also in Oshawa, The Refuge will be open for portable washroom and handwashing stations due to its proximity to the pathway often used by unsheltered residents. The facilities will be monitored by a security company and cleaning and servicing will be increased.
• The City of Pickering has opened Dunbarton Indoor Pool facility for washroom and shower access for unsheltered residents. The facility is operational 7 days a week for two time periods (8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.). It is located at 655 Sheppard Avenue, Pickering. Update: As of May 26, 2020, the Pickering Hygiene Hub is closed due to lack of use. Individuals in need are encouraged to access the Ajax Hygiene Hub.
• In the Town of Whitby, portable washroom facilities and handwashing stations have been installed at the McKinney Centre, as well as at Iroquois Park Sports Centre.

Support agencies

Local outreach support agencies, shelters and overnight warming centres remain open throughout Durham Region. Please visit durham.ca/EmergencyShelters to learn more about the options available for those who require assistance. Information about emergency supports for unsheltered residents is updated daily online through The Gap Committee.

Individuals who wish to access these services are also advised that these support agencies are following the advice of the Region’s Health Department, to help prevent the spread of illness. This includes practising proper hand hygiene and social distancing; coughing or sneezing into one’s sleeve or a tissue; active screening by staff at entrances; and increasing cleaning and disinfecting measures.

Alternative accommodations

Hotel partnerships across Durham Region have been secured to provide enhanced physical distancing accommodation for at-risk shelter clients. Hotel partnerships are located in Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington. In Ajax, a hotel will also be used to isolate unsheltered residents pending COVID-19 test results, as well as those who have tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to the hotels, two buildings at Camp Samac in Oshawa will be used to support the homeless shelter response and increase physical distancing within the shelter system. More information about this initiative will be shared soon.

Durham Region residents should follow trusted sources of information to stay informed. For a full list of impacts to Regional programs and services, visit durham.ca/ServiceChanges. Get the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Durham Region at durham.ca/NovelCoronavirus.

Quote

“Unsheltered residents are among the most vulnerable in our community. By working together, we can ensure that these at-risk individuals can still access the services they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping this population as healthy and safe as possible ensures we stay Durham strong.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer

– 30 –

For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.