The Durham Homelessness Crisis is part of a growing province-wide emergency that Ontario’s Big City Mayors say requires stronger action from the provincial government.
Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy joined municipal leaders from across Ontario in calling for a formal emergency declaration recognizing the severity of homelessness, mental health and addiction challenges facing communities.
Roy said municipalities have invested heavily in shelters, supportive housing, outreach services, community safety initiatives and partnerships with frontline organizations, but local governments cannot solve what she described as a broader health and social-services crisis on their own.
According to figures cited by Roy, at least 1,871 people are experiencing homelessness across Durham Region, including 338 in Whitby.
Ontario Mayors Launch New Phase of Campaign
Ontario’s Big City Mayors has launched the next phase of its Solve the Crisis campaign, called Reaction to Recovery.
The campaign is pushing for several major changes from senior levels of government.
Among the key requests are expanded access to addiction recovery and treatment programs, the creation of a dedicated provincial Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and a review of Ontario’s Mental Health Act and Health Care Consent Act.
The group is also calling for more addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs in provincial and federal correctional facilities.
Most significantly, the mayors want Ontario to officially declare an emergency over homelessness, mental health and addiction.
Roy said continuing with the current approach is not sustainable because both the human and financial costs are increasing.
Whitby Shelter Remains Near Capacity
The Durham Homelessness Crisis is particularly visible at the shelter located at 1635 Dundas Street East in Whitby.
Durham Region says the facility has operated at or near capacity since opening in March 2024.
The site was established to provide emergency shelter, but regional officials have acknowledged that stable and supportive housing is necessary to help people move permanently out of homelessness.
Phase 2 of the project is intended to expand the facility beyond emergency shelter.
The federal government announced a $40-million investment in January 2026 to support the next phase. Combined federal and regional funding for the project exceeds $53 million.
104 Supportive and Transitional Beds Planned
Once the second phase is completed, the upper floors of the Whitby facility are expected to include 104 supportive and transitional housing beds.
The expansion will also provide several wraparound services, including:
- addiction recovery support
- transitional housing
- palliative care for seniors experiencing homelessness
- a medical clinic
- social and support services
Durham Region says the goal is to create a pathway that helps residents move from emergency shelter toward more permanent housing.
HART Hub Coming to Whitby
Whitby is also expected to play a larger role in addressing mental health and addiction through a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub.
The HART Hub will be led by Durham Community Health Centre.
It is intended to connect residents experiencing addiction and mental health challenges with services including treatment, recovery programs, primary care, supportive housing and employment assistance.
The initiative complements other housing and homelessness programs already operating throughout Durham Region.
Durham currently supports projects such as Beaverton Heights transitional housing, Oshawa micro-homes and the 1635 Dundas Street East development.
Mayors Say Municipalities Cannot Solve Crisis Alone
Ontario’s Big City Mayors represents leaders from 29 municipalities with populations of more than 100,000.
Together, those municipalities account for more than 70 per cent of Ontario’s population.
The organization argues that municipalities have reached the limits of what they can sustainably fund through local property taxes.
Roy said governments need long-term investment and stronger coordination between housing, health care, mental health and addiction services.
The Durham Homelessness Crisis therefore forms part of a larger debate over which level of government should fund and deliver services for residents experiencing homelessness and complex health challenges.
For Whitby and the rest of Durham Region, pressure on emergency shelter capacity and growing investment in supportive housing suggest the issue will remain a major policy priority.
