Durham Region supports unsheltered residents amidst pandemic

Whitby, Ontario –The Regional Municipality of Durham continues to support unsheltered residents amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and remains committed to ending chronic homelessness in Durham Region.

To stay safe and warm this winter, unsheltered residents may access housing-focused shelter programs located throughout the region. Housing-focused shelter programs aim to end homelessness by providing temporary accommodation, while helping find permanent housing. In addition, outreach hubs are available in Ajax, Cannington and Oshawa. Wrap-around supports available at these hub locations include:

• Housing outreach support
• Service navigation
• Food
• Washroom/shower facilities
• Connection to health services

Since the cold winter weather is here, shelters are prepared to expand their services when temperatures drop below -15 degrees Celsius or severe weather conditions are anticipated for the next 24 to 36 hours. During this extreme cold, the Homelessness Support System alerts unsheltered residents and helps them take precautions.

Shelter settings are also working to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by following public health guidelines, including physical distancing measures and enhanced cleaning. To help unsheltered residents access supports virtually, shelter settings have upgraded Wi-Fi services and made mobile devices available.

In order to maintain physical distancing and support capacity, shelters are using hotel rooms for additional space and offering diversion programs, which help unsheltered residents identify alternate housing arrangements. To expand available spaces, Christian Faith Outreach Centre in Ajax is providing an additional 20 spaces and New Life Neighbourhood in Oshawa is serving as an overnight warming centre for 15 people.

The Region remains committed to ending homelessness, as indicated in the At Home in Durham, the Durham Housing Plan 2014-2024, and joined the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness’s Built for Zero Canada program.

As part of this nation-wide effort to end chronic homelessness, the Region maintains a list of all people experiencing homelessness in our community, which is called a By-Name List. This list provides access to real-time data to better address homelessness. Since creating the list in September 2020, more than 100 chronically homeless people have been housed.

The Region also streamlined the process for unsheltered residents to access housing and supports through Durham’s Co-ordinated Access System.

The Region of Durham will continue to help implement new and innovative initiatives to secure more permanent housing options and end homelessness in our community.

Learn more at durham.ca/AtHome.

Quotes

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges, but we continue to help ensure the health and safety of unsheltered residents. Our goal is to end chronic homelessness in Durham Region because every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to have a roof over their head.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Region of Durham

“The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for housing and homelessness service providers, but they have adapted to ensure programming is delivered following all health and safety measures. We are dedicated to not only meeting the needs of our unsheltered residents, but to securing permanent housing options to end chronic homelessness in Durham altogether.”

- Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, Commissioner of Social Services

Quick Facts

• Outreach hubs in Ajax, Cannington and Oshawa offer housing outreach support, service navigation, food, washroom/shower facilities, connection to health services, and more.
• Unsheltered residents may access housing-focused shelter programs to stay safe this winter. Visit the housing-focused shelter programs webpage to find a shelter for you.
• Durham Region’s Master Housing Strategy aims to improve affordability and access to housing across Durham Region, while highlighting priorities in At Home in Durham, the Durham Housing Plan 2014-2024. Priorities include affordable rent, greater housing choice, strong and vibrant neighbourhoods, and ending homelessness.
• Many of the Region’s initiatives follow a housing-focused approach, meaning the programming is related to obtaining permanent housing. The goal is to reduce the number of unsheltered residents.
• Since implementing the Co-ordinated Access System, Durham’s homelessness support system houses 10 chronically homeless people per month on average.

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For media inquiries, please contact Corporate Communications.