On a humid morning outside Oshawa City Hall, a small group gathers, their signs painted with urgent messages: “Homes, Not Shelters” and “Everyone Deserves a Place to Sleep.”
These are not just slogans. For the people who live and work in Durham Region, and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the homelessness crisis is more than a headline—it’s a daily reality.
The numbers are hard to ignore. In Durham Region alone, nearly 300 people are counted as homeless on any given night, and agencies say the real figure is likely much higher. In Toronto, the crisis has reached levels not seen in decades, with encampments popping up in city parks and lineups for shelter beds stretching late into the evening.
For years, the response has been fragmented. Each municipality has its own patchwork of services: some have warming centers, others offer motel vouchers, and a few have managed to open transitional housing units. But as the crisis deepens—driven by skyrocketing rents, stagnant wages, and a shortage of affordable housing—local advocates say what’s needed is a unified regional strategy.
“We keep seeing people fall through the cracks when they cross city lines,” says Sharon Williams, director of a local outreach group in Whitby. “A strategy that covers all of Durham and connects to the GTA would mean no one gets left behind just because of a technicality or a postal code.”
Action Beyond Temporary Fixes Needed
Advocates are calling for coordinated action that goes beyond temporary fixes. They want all levels of government to work together on a comprehensive plan: more permanent supportive housing, a regional database to track available beds and services, and new investments in mental health and addiction supports.
They point to the way cities pooled resources during the pandemic as proof that regional approaches can work.
It’s not just about money, they argue. It’s about political will. “We need leadership that treats homelessness as a regional emergency, not a municipal inconvenience,” says Mark Lewis, who spent three years living on the streets of Ajax. “People shouldn’t have to bus from Pickering to Scarborough just to find a place to sleep.”
The push for a regional strategy has gained momentum in recent months. Durham’s mayors have begun meeting to discuss joint solutions, and Toronto city councillors are watching closely. There’s talk of a shared homelessness action plan to roll out next year, but details are still thin.
Another Day Without a Plan is Someone Sleeping Outside
For those on the front lines, patience is running out. “We’re tired of waiting,” Williams says. “Every day without a real plan is another day someone’s sleeping outside.”
As summer fades and the first cold nights approach, the need for action grows more urgent. Advocates hope that, this time, city leaders will listen—and that the next person in need of a safe place to sleep won’t have to wonder which side of the border they’re on.