1635 Dundas Street: Meeting immediate and long-term needs of Durham citizens without a home

The 1635 Dundas Street East project is a multi-phase initiative aimed at providing safe and inclusive housing support solutions to help individuals and families who need it most.

Durham Region welcomed the first occupants to 1635 Dundas Street East shelter on March 20, 2024. The shelter has provided a safe and supportive environment to over 100 unique individuals. The occupancy rate has been at or near capacity since opening.

Phase 2 now focuses on implementing what we heard from community engagement in Phase 1 by creating housing units with health and social supports and services. Durham Region values the insights and suggestions from our community members in informing the design and implementation of this facility that meets the needs of our residents.

We invite members of the public to share their feedback through our online survey, available on Your Durham until September 27, 2024.

1635 Dundas Street East Phase 2 Community Engagement Survey


The Phase 2 Survey will be available until September 27, 2024.

Click here or scroll to the bottom of the page to take our survey.



We greatly appreciate and value feedback as it will help inform the planning and development process of Phase 2 for 1635 Dundas Street East.


Check out this virtual tour of 1635 Dundas:


The Region of Durham and Town of Whitby reach agreement for 1635 Dundas Street Project

On November 29, 2023, Durham Region and the Town of Whitby have reached an agreement related to 1635 Dundas Street. This decision will help to ensure collaboration that will allow the project to move forward. The Region purchased 1635 Dundas to help address the urgent need for housing and services. This will become part of the system of services across Durham to support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It will help to provide immediate solutions to help individuals and families who need it most.

Read the Council report here and the Full Agreement on the right column of this page.


Community Liaison Committee

The 1635 Dundas Community Liaison Committee (CLC) has officially begun to meet on a monthly basis to share information, identify issues, concerns and mitigation strategies that will assist in a successful integration of this low barrier shelter into the broader community.

Meeting minutes will be posted online after they are approved by the Community Liaison Committee. The meeting minutes for January have been posted to the right hand column under Community Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes.

If community members would like to connect with the CLC, please email CommunityLC@durham.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions Video Series on 1635 Dundas



Have your say!

The Region held a community engagement session to gather input on 1635 Dundas on August 30 and October 3, 2023. These sessions 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.

Subscribe to this page to receive updates.

Below is a recording of the Community Engagement Session held on October 3, 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.

The 1635 Dundas Street East project is a multi-phase initiative aimed at providing safe and inclusive housing support solutions to help individuals and families who need it most.

Durham Region welcomed the first occupants to 1635 Dundas Street East shelter on March 20, 2024. The shelter has provided a safe and supportive environment to over 100 unique individuals. The occupancy rate has been at or near capacity since opening.

Phase 2 now focuses on implementing what we heard from community engagement in Phase 1 by creating housing units with health and social supports and services. Durham Region values the insights and suggestions from our community members in informing the design and implementation of this facility that meets the needs of our residents.

We invite members of the public to share their feedback through our online survey, available on Your Durham until September 27, 2024.

1635 Dundas Street East Phase 2 Community Engagement Survey


The Phase 2 Survey will be available until September 27, 2024.

Click here or scroll to the bottom of the page to take our survey.



We greatly appreciate and value feedback as it will help inform the planning and development process of Phase 2 for 1635 Dundas Street East.


Check out this virtual tour of 1635 Dundas:


The Region of Durham and Town of Whitby reach agreement for 1635 Dundas Street Project

On November 29, 2023, Durham Region and the Town of Whitby have reached an agreement related to 1635 Dundas Street. This decision will help to ensure collaboration that will allow the project to move forward. The Region purchased 1635 Dundas to help address the urgent need for housing and services. This will become part of the system of services across Durham to support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It will help to provide immediate solutions to help individuals and families who need it most.

Read the Council report here and the Full Agreement on the right column of this page.


Community Liaison Committee

The 1635 Dundas Community Liaison Committee (CLC) has officially begun to meet on a monthly basis to share information, identify issues, concerns and mitigation strategies that will assist in a successful integration of this low barrier shelter into the broader community.

Meeting minutes will be posted online after they are approved by the Community Liaison Committee. The meeting minutes for January have been posted to the right hand column under Community Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes.

If community members would like to connect with the CLC, please email CommunityLC@durham.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions Video Series on 1635 Dundas



Have your say!

The Region held a community engagement session to gather input on 1635 Dundas on August 30 and October 3, 2023. These sessions 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.

Subscribe to this page to receive updates.

Below is a recording of the Community Engagement Session held on October 3, 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.

  • What can I do to stop the project? I don't want a drop-in, 24-hour shelter in my neighborhood.

    The project has been approved by Regional Council. Council voted to purchase the 1635 Dundas property and then to open the facility 24 hours a day as an emergency low barrier shelter for approximately 45 individuals. No additional zoning approval is required, and the Ontario Human Rights Code does not allow people to choose who lives in their neighborhood. This facility will support the people who are currently having to live outdoors in Whitby, in ravines and in the area surrounding 1635 Dundas.

    The shelter spaces will support the need for overnight indoor space that existed last year. In addition, this site will allow people to stay inside during the day and work toward their goals instead of moving around outside in the cold.

    Shelters have registration and intake processes in place as well as policies to address health and safety, infection prevention and processes to manage daily operations.

  • Why would the largest drop in- shelter in Canada be set up in Whitby?

    Durham Region does not have the intention of creating one of the largest emergency shelters in Canada at this site.

    Currently, the urgency is to get 45 spaces operational at the shelter to bring people indoors before winter 2023. For a shelter to be considered operational, support services and policies must be in place. This initial phase will be shared rooms only, as only a portion of the building will be made operational at that time.

  • What was the process of purchasing the facility and how much money did the Region spend to purchase the site?

    Municipalities in Ontario follow the same process for purchasing property. The total purchase price for the facility was $13.7 million – this is public information and can be found in the property transfer deed of land at the Land Registry Office. The Region retained a third-party licensed appraiser to assess the property before purchase and the property was purchased at fair market value in accordance with the Region’s process for property acquisition. The decision to purchase the facility was approved by Regional Council. The purchase process and decisions were made separate from any plans and discussions surrounding the use of the facility.

  • Is the Region wasting taxpayer dollars by paying over $13 million for the 1635 Dundas property?

    All municipalities in Ontario follow the same process for purchasing property. The total purchase price was $13.7 million. The Region retained a third-party licensed appraiser to assess the property before purchase and the property was purchased at fair market value in accordance with the Region’s process for property acquisition.

    The Region is always looking for the most efficient and cost-effective way to provide services that the community needs. Purchasing an existing facility is more cost effective than building a new facility to support the community.

    Currently, a new long-term care home is projected to cost about $160 million to build. While the long-term care home has more extensive requirements, the size is similar to the size of the 1635 Dundas building. The purchase of 1635 Dundas provides a great opportunity to address community needs at a significantly lower cost than a new build.


Page last updated: 26 Aug 2024, 08:28 AM