Progress is continuing on a new Habitat for Humanity project in downtown Whitby, said a town statement.
Located at Hickory and Dunlop Streets, the Habitat for Humanity GTA development will include 46 affordable homes for Whitby families, it said.
Home insecurity has been growing rapidly in Durham, with just the by-name list topping 1,000 by October last year (see below).
This is Habitat for Humanity’s first-ever community in Whitby. Described as “a vibrant, affordable neighbourhood designed to give more families the opportunity to own a home. We’ll be building these homes across two sites: Hickory (north of Dunlop Street East) and Gilbert (south of Dunlop Street East), located in a primarily low- to mid-rise residential area east of Whitby’s downtown core.”
The Town of Whitby supported the project with a donation of two parcels of land and recently worked with Habitat GTA to achieve Zoning By-law approvals. This milestone represents an important step forward in the planning process. Habitat GTA is now working towards securing final planning approvals in the second quarter of 2026, with the goal of beginning construction in Fall 2026.
Whitby is currently facing a housing affordability crisis. Home prices have skyrocketed
According to Habitat for Humanity; the average home price in Whitby was last reported to be more than $960,000. That’s nearly double what it was a decade ago.
Since 2006, Whitby’s population has grown 26.5 per cent to 140,615. This even outpaces the provincial growth of 20.9 per cent and increases demand for housing and putting pressure on supply.
What It Will Look Like
The homes will be stacked townhouses with space between buildings and plenty of greenery. Each home will have its own outdoor area, like a patio or rooftop terrace. There will also be shared landscaped spaces for everyone to enjoy. The design includes accessible units and uses cost-effective building methods to keep homes affordable.
Fitting Into the Neighborhood
The buildings will be three storeys high and designed to match the look and feel of the surrounding area. New sidewalks will added and roads improved to make it easier to walk and get around.
Homes and Sizes
The plan is to build 46 homes, including 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units, plus several accessible homes for families who need them.
Timeline
Expected Construction start: 2026
Expected move in for Families: 2028
In an effort to support more people in need of homes and shelter, the federal government and the Region of Durham recently announced over $53 million in combined funding to expand supports at the shelter located at 1635 Dundas in Whitby.
The shelter, which is operated by the Region of Durham, opened in 2024 with 45 emergency shelter beds, and has helped hundreds of people so far.
The new funding will support transitional housing on the second and third floors of the building, as well as recovery spaces, palliative care, a human trafficking recovery program, and an on-site medical clinic. This investment provides a path for vulnerable residents who are struggling or in crisis to move towards stability.