With winter approaching, more than 200 individuals — 114 children and 88 adults needing financial assistance — are being impacted by the withdrawal of funding for affordable housing support in Durham.
The Salvation Army Guarantor program was set up with landlords to support tenants, with the Salvation Army paying rent directly to landlords. Durham Region funded the Salvation Army to deliver the program aimed at reducing homelessness, delivering wraparound supports, and preventing housing loss. Now landlords have no guarantee on rents from the impacted persons.
There were 811 homeless people Durham in August, according to Durham Region, which the same month announced a $6.4 million federal grant to to address homelessness (see below).
“We can confirm that the supported housing program operated by the Salvation Army in Durham Region is currently in a wind-down phase,” said Glenn van Gulik, Salvation Army Director of Strategic Engagement and Brand. “This follows the Region of Durham’s decision not to renew the funding agreement for the program.”
Durham Region told Durham Post it had received information about “71 households, which is a total of 80 clients”.
However, Salvation Army informed: The Salvation Army was notified on April 17, 2025, that funding for the program would end on May 17, 2025. At the time of that decision, the program was actively and successfully supporting 88 adults and 114 children.”
Landlords Hesitant to Rent Out
The region said it is not contacting directly or entering into agreements with landlords.
I have two houses with them that I have rented out for many years. The tenants pay the rent, and the rent is guaranteed in case tenants can’t pay that month, said Durham property owner Jennifer Johnston.
“Personally, I will not take on these tenants on my own without guarantee and…if they can’t be transferred to York [program], they will be homeless in November. More than 10 people [are] with me alone,” she pointed out saying similar programs are being run in Peel and York regions too.
“I have a single mom with 9 kids – youngest is 18 months – living in one of my homes…the risk is too high so most landlords are terminating the agreements. I will not take on the tenants on my own. Too risky with missing rent and damages,” she added.
Additional Resources & Support
“Regional staff have started contacting clients whose information was made available to us. Clients can also reach out to HomelessHelp@durham.ca or phone 311 ext. 5510 for more information. Each person’s situation is different, and we’re working to provide additional resources and support with next steps or exploring other options. There are housing retention supports to help those who have complex needs,” said a statement from Durham Region.
The region explained that additional resources and support included:
- Working with Durham Community Legal Clinic to host drop-in information sessions for landlords and tenants (session dates are to be determined).
- If clients express that they require assistance to complete paperwork, such as a Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit application, they are encouraged to attend one of our Community HUBS or the Resource Centre, where they can receive help with these tasks.
- Other resources:
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- Durham Community Legal Clinic (DCLC)
Offers free legal support for residents living with low income, including help with tenant-landlord issues and advocacy. Home – Durham Community Legal Clinic and Access to Justice Hub - Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO)
A provincial specialty clinic offering legal advice, FAQs, and resources for tenant rights, evictions and hearings. acto.ca - Food Supports – Region of Durham
- Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit
- Renter’s Toolkit – Region of Durham
- Apply for Housing – Region of Durham
- File Your Taxes – Region of Durham
- Durham Community Legal Clinic (DCLC)
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There’s definitely something missing here in the so called helping people with whatever programs exist when they managed to purchase rental properties when the market was sky high and the entire building had existing tenants who had to vacate due to extreme high rents due to the purchase of said properties.
There’s something wrong somewhere here and the public doesn’t know the entire truth.
“Renovictions” are usually to blame. People get evicted over something like the building owner doesn’t like (insert petty reason) and it’s game over for the tenant who probably doesn’t have first and last, money to move or family and friends to go to.
Add to that not knowing about social resources or housing lists that take years if not decades to get on. The waitlists for social housing are enormous. Anywhere.
The Canadian Ontario housing benefit is at capacity and not taking new applicals, also the COHB is set to end in 2029, so that isn’t a logical solution and applying for housing… It’s currently a 14 year waitThe Regions solutions are not solutions. The region is now making people homeless with their careless, inhumane decision. And then when you are homeless, you can’t even have a tent or they will take everything you own and throw it in the garbage.So where are all these families, including children and babies supposed to go when it’s a year wait to even get a bed at a shelter right now. To cut funding to a necessary housing program at the start of winter now, affecting children, entire families, disability people and people who are physically injured and unable to wall, as animals, service animals and more. This is cruel. Every service is over capacitated. There is literally nowhere to go even on the byname list, which is the emergency housing street homelessness list.. It’s like a 4 year wait for housing help because if people don’t leave the shelters/ rent geared to income programs, spots don’t open. There’s no room available anywhere, And to get into a hotel program , you have to be a refugee. It’s ridiculous that Canadians are being treated this way.