Help shape the services provided at 1635 Dundas to address community need

Upcoming Community Engagement Session

The Regional Municipality of Durham will be hosting a Community Engagement Session on October 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. for residents to hear a presentation, ask questions and share ideas for 1635 Dundas. The meeting will be available via live stream at durham.ca and questions will be accepted ahead of the meeting at engagement@durham.ca.

The community engagement session will have a moderator to ensure as many questions as possible are asked and answered; responses will be provided later for any questions that we are unable to respond to within the meeting duration.

Please note: in-person attendance has reached full capacity, as 180 community members are registered (100 tickets to attend the session in person; 80 tickets to attend the overflow rooms).

Housing and homelessness is a growing demand in Canada, and this includes Durham Region. We need to find new opportunities for shelter, housing and services for vulnerable, low-income residents. The need is outpacing our ability to provide support.

In June 2023, Durham Regional Council approved funding for a Whitby-based site; expanding Regional facilities for safe housing and accessible services across municipalities. The former Sunnycrest Nursing Home, now referred to as 1635 Dundas, is an ideal location for temporary housing with wrap-around supports. This site can support people who are currently living outdoors in Whitby, in ravines and in the area surrounding 1635 Dundas.

The Regional Municipality of Durham is responsible for the planning and coordination of the Homelessness Support System across Durham Region. The Region is the Service System Manager legislated by the provincial government and the community entity designated by the federal government. This means that the Region already has a plan in place to support people using shelter services. For 1635 Dundas, the Region has already engaged with community partners that offer health, housing, social, mental health and addiction and life skills building programs.

At this stage, 1635 Dundas will provide 45 shelter beds to help meet our community’s urgent need ahead of the harsh, cold winter. The site will remain open during the day, allowing people to stay inside and work toward their goals, instead of having to go outside during the day.

The shelter will follow established shelter best-practices. Wrap-around supports at the site will be in place when it opens and the indoor environment allows for a full range of programming. Wrap-around supports are services and programs that will be on site to support individual needs. The Region takes security seriously and we will work to mitigate any negative impacts to the community and keep people using the facility safe.

For the future use of this building, engagement with community members will help determine the services and types of housing included. The Region will create a community liaison committee to help shape the long-term vision for the shelter and ensure its future success.

Long term, 1635 Dundas has the potential to offer a co-ordinated and accessible service delivery model that supports people, creates a sense of belonging and meets individual needs. There is no intention to create one of the largest emergency shelters in Canada at the site; this is not a best practice. Regional staff consider best practices, research and community planning when setting up new programs, as part of their daily work. This site allows for planning of sleep space and services that support positive outcomes for people.

Help shape the future of this facility! All community members including residents, businesses, community and health providers, and those with lived experiences are invited to weigh in and help create a positive path forward.

Have your say!

The Region held a community engagement session to gather input on 1635 Dundas on August 30, 2023. This drop-in session offered the community an opportunity to share their concerns, inquiries and ideas for the site.

If you were unable to attend the in-person community engagement session, share your questions and comments at any time through this project page, see below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for submitting your questions and comments. We will continue to update our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Below is our FAQ section with up-to-date information. FAQs last updated on September 18, 2023

1635 Dundas Survey

Your feedback is essential in helping shape services provided at 1635 Dundas. Participate in our survey and provide your input. The survey is available until September 27, 2023.

Visit https://www.durham.ca/SupportiveHousingProjects/ to learn more about this Whitby-based site, along with information on the Beaverton Supportive Housing Project and the Oshawa Micro-Homes Pilot Project.