Durham Region names Christian Faith Outreach Centre to operate planned 45-bed shelter at 1635 Dundas St. E. in Whitby
Durham Region says it will open a 45-bed, low-barrier shelter for people experiencing homelessness at 1635 Dundas St. E. in Whitby and has selected Christian Faith Outreach Centre (CFOC) to operate it, according to a Region news release posted March 11, 2026.
The announcement matters for Whitby residents because the Region says the site is intended to provide indoor space and services for people experiencing homelessness, and the project includes a Community Liaison Committee and community engagement for future phases.
In the release, the Region states the shelter would open “in winter 2024.” The Region did not provide an updated opening date in the March 11, 2026 posting.
The Region says the facility will have 45 shelter beds and remain open during the day as well as overnight.
Durham Region said it chose CFOC through an Expression of Interest process.
The Region said it purchased the 1635 Dundas St. E. property to help address what it described as an “urgent need for housing and services.”
The release includes a statement from Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, the Region’s commissioner of social services, who said the selection of an operator brings the project closer to opening.
CFOC executive director Marla Walters said in the release that “low-barrier” does not mean “no-barrier.”
As background, the Region says it is responsible for planning and co-ordinating the Homelessness Support System across Durham’s local municipalities, including shelter and support services.
In the same release, the Region listed other projects it says are underway: the Beaverton Transitional Supportive Housing modular development in Beaverton; the Ritson School Project, a renovation of a former elementary school building in Oshawa for community programs; and a Community Housing Redevelopment Project involving redevelopment of Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation properties.
The Region said future phases of the 1635 Dundas project will be shaped by community engagement and a Community Liaison Committee.