Durham Region plans to buy former Pickering hotel for federally funded asylum reception centre
Durham Region says it will buy a former hotel at 533 Kingston Rd. in Pickering, using federal funding, to set up what it calls the Durham Reception Centre for temporary accommodation and support services for asylum claimants served through the Durham Humanitarian Response Program.
The reception centre is intended to create a dedicated location in Pickering for short-term housing and related supports. The Region of Durham announced the plan in a news release dated April 24, 2026.
According to the release, the federal government has provided funding for the purchase. Durham Region said the 2.84-acre property and some future operating costs are being funded through the federal Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP).
The region said securing a dedicated interim housing facility is a core requirement of the IHAP grant.
Durham Region said the reception centre will be operated by the Community Development Council Durham, with support from other community organizations.
The region said the Durham Humanitarian Response Program has been its primary approach for coordinating temporary accommodations and settlement services since 2023.
Durham Region did not provide an opening date for the reception centre or details about how many people it would accommodate.