There are many Durham Region housing options that are available as resources. This blog post will outline some of the resources you can access.
The resources include shelters, social housing, rent supplement programs, programs that determine your rent amount based on your income (RGI), financial assistance for housing, housing services, and your rights as tenants.
These resources are for you to access, so please review the requirements to see if you qualify for each program.
List of Durham Region Housing Options
Domiciliary hostels are long-term, supervised shelters for adults who have psychiatric or related disabilities and require daily supervision of their activities. It is important to note that the residents in domiciliary hostels have to be able to live with other people.
There are two domiciliary hostels in Durham Region and there are 13 hostel beds in each location. If residents aren’t able to afford the room and board costs, the Region of Durham may provide financial assistance.
For more information call 905-666-0831.
Emergency shelters are temporary shelters for individuals and families that have no place to stay. Contact the following agencies for information as nightly bed availability changes:
DYHSS (Durham Youth Housing and Support Services)
(For Youth 16 to 24) 13 beds
905-239-9477
Muslim Welfare Home
(single women with or without children)
905-665-0424
Cornerstone Community Services Durham Inc.
(single men, over 16 years of age; single men with dependent children; couples with children in their care)
905-433-0254 ext. 228
Violence Against Women Shelters
In Durham Region, there are 4 Violence Against Women shelters. The shelters are for women and women with children who need support with leaving an abusive relationship.
The province funds these shelters, but the Region of Durham can provide an allowance for residents who don’t have other income. Maintenance benefits are also available for women who are ready to leave the shelter and fully immerse themselves back in the community.
Ajax/Pickering
Herizon House
(women, with/without children) 21 beds
1-866-437-4966
www.herizonhouse.com
Joanne’s House – 82 Kings Cres
(For ages 16 – 24 years old)
- Shelter
- A drop-in safe place for youth
- Meals and food cupboard
- Clothing
- Shower and washroom facilities
- Assistance obtaining benefits
- Help navigating social service system
- Access to telephone an d the internet
905-239-9477 *collect calls are accepted.
http://www.durhamyouth.com/youth/index.php
Clarington
Bethesda House of Mercy
(women, with/without children) 15 beds
905-623-6050 or 1-800-338-3397
www.bethesdahouse.ca
Oshawa
Denise House -Sedna Women’s Shelter & Support Services
(women, with/without children) 22 beds
905-728-7311 or 1-800-263-3725
TDD 905-728-4394
www.thedenisehouse.com
Y’s WISH
(women, with/without children) 15 beds
24 hour Crisis: 905-576-2997 or 1-888-576-2997
Administration: 905-576-6743
www.ywcadurham.org
Subsidized Rent Properties
Rent supplement programs allow for affordable rent in privately owned buildings for those who can’t afford regular rent rates that the landlord charges. However this does not apply to the private units that residents are currently residing in.
Applicants must apply to the Durham Access to Social Housing (DASH) to get onto the waiting list for consideration.
Rent-geared-to-income (RGI) assistance is generally equivalent to subsidized housing. RGI assistance
allows for reduced rent to be paid. The amount is roughly 30% of the total gross household income.
To find out if you meet the eligibility requirements, click here.
To apply for RGI assistance you must fill out the first part of the form and the second part of the form. Once the forms are completed and submitted, you’ll be placed on the waiting list.
If you are being abused by someone you live with, you may be eligible for special priority status. Here is the form for special priority status.
If you have unusually high costs in comparison to most households, you might be eligible for critical priority applicants. To find out if you’re eligible for critical priority, contact one of the following:
Durham Region Housing Services
605 Rossland Rd. E.
P.O. Box 623
Whitby, ON L1N 6A3
Phone: 905-666-6222
Toll Free: 1-800-372-1102
Durham Region Non-profit Housing Corporation
28A Albert St.
Oshawa, ON L1H 8S5
Phone: 905-436-6610
Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation
The Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation (DRLHC) manages approximately 1,276 housing units. All of their tenants have pay rent that is geared to their income.
Find out how rent is calculated.
Find a DRHLC location near you.
Social Housing
In the Region of Durham alone, there are approximately 45 social housing providers who own about 6,400 rental units. To find a rental unit, click here. Once you’ve found a provider, you should contact them directly.
Social housing is a great option because it provides flexibility. Some of the units are also accessible for people who use wheelchairs or have other special needs. In addition, there are alternative housing options for people who have been homeless, have difficulty living alone, and people who need help transitioning into the community.
Housing Help
Housing Outreach Workers
Housing outreach workers assist households to maintain their current tenancies through programs such as eviction prevention, secure permanent housing, and so on.
Housing outreach workers can help you contact landlords, negotiate with prospective landlords, provide assistance for housing-related transportation, and make referrals to other services like Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Outreach workers are available at:
John Howard Society of Durham
The John Howard Society of Durham helps prevent homelessness. They provide services such as:
- Mediation or advocacy
- Assistance and support for finding housing
- Assistance for filling out rental applications
- ID replacement
- Referrals to community resources, emergency housing, and out of town emergency hostels
Oshawa Location
Walk-in intake is available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 11am to 2:30pm. Please note that due to unexpected volume, clients may be referred to come back the next day.
Bowmanville Location
Please contact the Housing Worker listed below to make an appointment.
Eviction Prevention Advocate/I.D. Clinic, 905-579-8482
Maggie McCallum (maggie.mccallum@jhsd.ca)
Housing Advocate (Oshawa), 905-579-8482
Sabiha Abo (sabiha.abo@jhsd.ca)
Clarington Housing Outreach Advocate, 905-623-6814
Holly Norwick (Part time) (holly.norwick@jhsd.ca)
For more housing services, visit https://jhsdurham.on.ca/housing/
Housing Help Durham
Housing Help Durham provides personal support services that helps you with house searching. They provide a free list of rental accommodations in Durham at www.durham.ca.
Housing Stability Program
The Housing Stability Program helps low-income singles, couples, and families keep their rental housing. They also prevent homelessness by providing financial assistance. Applicants are eligible for financial assistance for the last month’s rent deposit when obtaining new accommodations.
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program
The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program helps low income families pay for their utility bills for up to two months worth of gas and hydro as a one time grant. For more information about the Housing Stability Program and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, visit http://www.cdcd.org/programs/housingprogram/or call 905-686-2661.
Tenant Rights
If you are a tenant or intending to be a tenant, you should know your rights. If you’re wondering whether or not something is legal or not legal, find out here.
If you know someone who might be eligible to use these services, please share this information with them and help better their situation.