At least 209 people were experiencing homelessness in Durham during last December, according to a report by Durham Region.
Of those, 122 people had been experiencing homelessness for six months or longer, said the report.
As a participant in Built for Zero – Canada, a national change effort through the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, Durham Region is committed to ending chronic homelessness by 2025.
In December:
- 20 persons became chronically homeless;
- Two persons got back in touch after having not been heard from in 60 days or more. Some people returned to town, or met the definition of chronically homeless;
- No person lost their housing as they have been in the homelessness system before, secured housing, then lost that housing;
- 11 persons moved into housing such as rental units, living with family, long term care home, etc.); and
- 17 persons lost touch. These people have not been heard from in 60 days or more, have left town, no longer meet the definition of chronic homelessness, or have died. People who no longer meet the definition of chronic homelessness are still captured in the overall number if they are still homeless.
Releasing the report in December, the region stated that “each month, Durham Region will share information about the number of people experiencing homelessness in our community. We hope that sharing this information will promote transparency and accountability in our homelessness response”.
It said by taking a close look at the data each month, it can help us:
- Focus on the facts (what we know), rather than the narrative (what we think);
- Adjust our services;
- See what needs to be done to end homelessness; and
- Improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness.
Homeless Durham Report-Card-December-2021
2021 Report
In 2021, 219 people have been housed using Durham’s Coordinated Access System. Of those, 114 people were experiencing chronic homelessness.
Since September 2021, all chronically homeless individuals who secured housing have remained housed, said a 2021 report.