Community Supports

Illustrated image with hands and symbols representing community supports

From food assistance and shelter services to mental health support and employment guidance, there are many community supports available to help those in need in Whitby and Durham Region.

Homeless Supports and Services In Durham Region

If you have questions or are looking for support, contact the Region of Durham at 905-666-6239 or 1 888-721-0622 extension 5510 open from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., 7 days a week.

Homeless Supports in Whitby

As Durham Region, including Whitby, continues to rapidly grow, more people and families are experiencing homelessness than ever before. The need for shelter is outpacing available community supports. Food security is also a growing concern.

A Whitby Homelessness Task Force has been created by the Town to focus and partner on several initiatives related to shelter, food security, and other supports for those experiencing homelessness.

Here’s a list of local services and resources available to help.

Who To Call

To report an immediate safety concern, call 9-1-1.

For questions related to homeless supports and services in the region, contact the Region of Durham:
Email Address: Homelesshelp@Durham.ca
Phone Number: 905-666-6239 or 1 888-721-0622 extension 5510
311 – press 4 for Homelessness and Housing

For information on transportation services needed for individuals experiencing homelessness, call the John Howard Society at 905-579-8482.
Who to call if you see:

For general concerns, any Durham resident can provide feedback online.

Learn more about the Region's Homelessness Outreach Teams

Food Banks

The Town has partnered with Feed the Need in Durham to open The Market – a new market-style food bank at Iroquois Park Sports Centre, helping to provide a more accessible, dignified, and equitable way for individuals to access food bank services and healthy food options in a community setting.

The market will officially open on May 2 (2024) and be operated by Feed the Need in Durham, supported by volunteers and the Town of Whitby in an effort to address food insecurity in the community.

Visit ftnd.ca under the "The Market" tab in the navigation bar for more information on how to access and support the new food bank.

If you are looking for support or wish to support food banks in Whitby, please consider visiting or reaching out to the following organizations below. You can also open and download a map that includes locations and hours for Whitby food bank locations.

All Saints' Anglican Church, 300 Dundas St W, Whitby, ON L1N 2M5 - Food Bank
Community Care Durham-Whitby, 20 Sunray St, Whitby, ON L1N 8Y3 - Food Supports
Durham Children's Aid Society (CAS), 1320 Airport Blvd, Oshawa, ON L1J 0C6 - Food Programs
Feed The Need In Durham, 371 Marwood Dr, Oshawa, ON L1H 7P8 - Food Bank
Kendalwood Food Bank, 300 Kendalwood Rd, Whitby, ON L1N 2G3 - Food Bank
Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 209 Cochrane St. Whitby, L1N 5H9 - Food Bank and Support Programs
St. Mark's United Church, 201 Centre St S, Whitby, ON L1N 4V7 - To Go Lunch program
St. Vincent de Paul (Holy Family Parish), 91 Ribblesdale Dr, Whitby, ON L1N 6Z3 - Food Supports
St. Vincent de Paul (St. John the Evangelist), 903 Giffard St, Whitby, ON L1N 2S2 - Food Supports
The Salvation Army Food Bank Whitby, 710 McQuay Blvd, Whitby, ON L1P 1R3 - Food Bank
Westminster United Church, 1850 Rossland Rd E, Whitby, ON L1N 3P2 - The Pantry
Whitby Baptist Church, 411 Gilbert St E, Whitby, ON L1N 1R6 - Food Bank

Visit the Region of Durham’s website for information on food centres available across the region.

Encampments

The Town of Whitby and its partners are committed to leading with care and compassion, helping to support vulnerable people camping on public spaces to access safer and healthier alternatives to living outside. This includes housing, support services, and shelter.

When it comes to encampments, while each individual case is unique, the Town is generally required to follow an approach with the Region where we determine the needs of the individual, whether they are seeking alternative shelter, and if so, whether that shelter is available. When it is available, we will work with our partners to transition those experiencing homelessness to more permanent housing, however where it is not available, we may be required to wait until it becomes available.

It’s important to note that, as a result of changes in the law, outside of certain immediate health and safety concerns, the Town cannot immediately evict people experiencing homelessness from Town land. Where situations warrant (ex. evidence of criminal activity), the Town will work with Durham Region Police Services to address those concerns, including removal of encampments from Town property.

To report a concern about a homeless encampment or unsheltered person, please call 905-668-7711, or toll-free 1-800-372-1102, or visit the Region of Durham's Housing-focused shelter programs web page.

Housing Supports (housing outreach or eviction prevention)

Durham Region

For Whitby residents seeking additional housing support in Durham Region, the Region's website offers valuable resources. You can explore programs such as Housing Outreach, Eviction Prevention, Housing Programs, Stability, Extreme Cleaning, Hoarding Support, and Homelessness Prevention by the Brain Injury Association of Durham.

To learn more on these housing supports in Durham Region, visit the Durham Region's Housing Supports webpage or contact the Region through the following:

Email Address: Homelesshelp@Durham.ca
Phone Number: 905-666-6239 or 1 888-721-0622 extension 5510
311 – press 4 for Homelessness and Housing

John Howard Society

John Howard Society is located in Downtown Whitby and can assist with various services, such as housing assistance, housing-related transportation, connections to other services, support negotiating with potential landlord or applying for housing programs. They can also help out through Project-X-Change with needle disposal.

Located at: 114 Dundas Street East #200, Whitby
Phone: 905.926.8073
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hygiene Products

Free feminine hygiene products are available at the Brooklin Community Centre and Library, McKinney Centre, and all Whitby Public Libraries.

Other hygiene products are available during food bank hours through the Salvation Army’s Whitby location at 710 McQuay Blvd open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Low Income Supports

Visit the Region of Durham’s website for additional information on low income supports available across the region.

Resources for Businesses

Safety Tips

The Town of Whitby and Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) are working together to keep our community safe.

General safety tips to support your business:

Keep windows clear to increase visibility.
Leave indoor and outdoor lights on at night.
Install security cameras and alarm systems.
Remove high-value items from window view.
Ensure doors and windows are locked and secure.
Remove any existing graffiti as soon as possible with power washers, sanding or re-painting.
Prevent graffiti by increasing lighting and adding obstacles such as ivy, murals or bushes around buildings to block access to walls / surfaces.
Surfaces can be painted with an anti-graffiti layer of paint that helps protect the original paint and allows for easy removal of graffiti if tagged.

Reporting Crime to DPRS

Several different incident types can be reported online:

Go to drps.ca > Report a Crime > Select Applicable Category

Mischief – Property Damage Under $5,000
- Damage or destruction of your property or vehicle (not a vehicle accident) through a deliberate act.
Theft Under $10,000
- When property is taken without your permission.
Community Concerns
- Concerns of ongoing behaviour or activity in your community.
Security Camera Registry
- Register your business’ security camera with DRPS.
- This secure, confidential registration will allow police to quickly locate cameras after a crime occurs and contact owners for surveillance footage.

Naloxone Kits

Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Businesses can find out if they are required to have a naloxone kit at their workplace, get a kit for free, and access training on how to use it.

Shelters

A few initiatives are currently being worked on related to providing shelter for those experiencing homelessness in Whitby:

The Region of Durham is working with the Town of Whitby to convert the former Sunnycrest Nursing Home, now referred to as 1635 Dundas, into a shelter with wrap-around supports. The Region will initially open the shelter to 45 residents. The site will remain open during the day, allowing people to stay inside and work toward their goals, instead of having to go outside during the day. The shelter will follow established shelter intake processes and best practices, with wraparound supports, and an indoor environment that allows for a full range of programming. Future phases of 1635 Dundas will be informed by community engagement and the Community Liaison Committee. Subscribe on the Region’s project page to stay informed.
Durham’s first family shelter – the Town has partnered with the Region of Durham to establish the region’s first family shelter at 316 Colborne Street West. Renovations will take place over the fall with a planned opening in late-2023. The shelter will house up to four families with children.

View an infographic of the housing continuum and examples of the various housing types required to establish and sustain safe, healthy, and inclusive communities.

Muslim Welfare Home

425 Dundas Street East, Whitby

Phone: 905-665-0424 or 1-866-666-1115
Email: muslimwelfarecentre@gmail.com
Criteria: Single women, single women with children (boys under 12), no pets

Warming Centres

The Region of Durham has implemented a Winter Warming Plan to provide support to individuals without shelter during the winter months.

To learn more on these supports in Durham Region, visit the Durham Region's Homeless Shelters webpage.