Region confirms its commitment to addressing housing and homelessness

Whitby, Ontario – Today, the Region of Durham released its five-year review of At Home in Durham, the Durham Housing Plan 2014-2024—a 10-year plan that focuses on affordable rent for everyone; greater housing choice; ending homelessness in our region; and strong and vibrant neighbourhoods.

“Affordable, accessible and suitable housing is essential for strong and vibrant communities,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “The need for greater housing choice and access to affordable housing are top priorities for the Region. We are building partnerships and considering innovative solutions to address these important issues. We also require a significant and sustainable investment from the federal and provincial governments to help us achieve our targets.”

During the next five years, the Region of Durham is committed to:

• Reducing chronic homelessness to zero.
• Increasing the supply of affordable rental housing by 1,000 units.
• Increasing the supply of medium to high density housing.
• Significant progress in the regeneration of community housing.

“We have a clear direction to move us forward,” said Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, Commissioner of Social Services. “We will continue to identify and expand community housing in Durham. Now, more than ever, we need to work together, so everyone can feel welcome and at home in Durham.”

To put these targets into action, the Region has proposed the development of a comprehensive Master Housing Strategy. This strategy will include a complete review of the current housing system and revitalization of the Regionally owned Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation (DRLHC).

Some key highlights of the five-year review include:

• Beginning in 2018, the Region hosted its first annual National Housing Day event, in partnership with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The event brings together community housing partners with an emphasis on sustaining and strengthening relationships.
• The Region of Durham has joined nine other communities in the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Built for Zero Canada campaign—a nation-wide effort that helps leading communities end chronic homelessness. Through the collection of real-time data, the Region and its service providers can better address homelessness in Durham.
• Regional employees established the Oshawa Unsheltered Residents (OUR) Task Force in 2018 to address the needs and barriers of those living unsheltered in the City of Oshawa.
• In 2018, the Region contributed about $34 million to support the operations of 44 non-profit housing providers, and to provide long-term, rent-geared-to-income (RGI) subsidy for 4,481 households in Durham.
• In 2018, the Region introduced the Durham Portable Housing Benefit, which is paid directly to eligible low-income households to bridge the gap between affordable rent (roughly 30 per cent of income) and average market rent. The benefit is 100 per cent Regionally funded and being piloted to 70 households.
• Since the start of the plan in 2014, the Region has supported the development of 421 new rental units, including 389 affordable units.
• The Region and its area municipalities established a surplus lands inventory to encourage the development of new affordable rental housing.

 To access the five-year review and At Home in Durham, the Durham Housing Plan 2014-2024, please visit durham.ca/AtHome.

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