More than 800 people homeless from Oshawa to Pickering, new report finds

Durham Region continues to grapple with an ever-growing homeless population, which as of September peaked at more than 800 people receiving services.

The new estimate is the Region’s by-name list, a list of people who are currently enrolled in regional support services. The list currently contains 811  people. However, this remains a conservative number since not all people experiencing homelessness are enrolled in these services.

The Region announced the number on National Housing Day, on Nov. 22. This was the same day they held a networking event for “community and affordable housing providers, developers, landlords and support agencies to discuss housing challenges and potential solutions.”

“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.”

As such, Durham Region has begun several initiatives to address the housing crisis in the area. Part of this involved calling on additional support from the federal and provincial governments. These calls grew loudest last summer when the Regional and municipal support for new arrivals ran out.

Ajax in particular was hit hard with Mayor Shaun Collier describing it as an “emergency situation.” While the province stepped in to provide some support, these funds already dried up. As a result, Whitby has renewed calls for increased support.

Durham has begun to redevelop some of its Local Housing Corporation properties to increase unit count. Stage one of this project has chosen a property on Malaga Street and a property on Christine Crescent, both in Oshawa, for revitalization. These have been in the works since 2022 and are nearing the end of the design phase.

Additionally, more housing opportunities are being explored at the former Ritson School, also in Oshawa. The school was first built between 1923 and 1928. The Durham District School Board decommissioned the site in 2012 and Oshawa designated it as a heritage property in 2019.

“The vision for the Ritson School Project will see the renovation of the former elementary school building to be used for community programs that meet the current and future needs of residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods and communities,” the Region described, “The project will also examine the unused lands on the school property for opportunities to include mixed-use, sustainably-built housing.”

Oshawa is also home to the Region’s Microhome project. These ten units provide transitional homes at Gibb Street and Olive Avenue to help those suffering from homelessness move into permanent homes. The award-winning project opened in 2022. While a significant success, the project has not been without issues. Ken Chopee, 58, was found murdered in his micro home in January 2023.

A similar, albeit larger, transitional home project also recently opened up in Beaverton after a long and occasionally vicious fight between the Region and Brock Township. Brock initially changed its zoning to prevent the construction of Beaverton Heights, prompting a lawsuit from Durham.

Following several months of negotiations the township and the Region came to an agreement granting several concessions to Brock. The delays led costs of the project to balloon but, after the Feds and province added some cash, the project finally finished in September.

Finally, the Region also opened up a new shelter at 1635 Dundas Street. The building used to be a long-term care home for the elderly, but mismanagement during the pandemic led to the permanent closure.

Like the Beaverton project, the low-barrier shelter faced fierce resistance from some in the community. One man even physically threatened Mayor Elizabeth Roy during a public meeting on the project. However, the project went ahead and opened in March.