Community members are strongly rejecting the Region of Durham and Town of Whitby's acquisition and plans to erect one of the regions largest Low Barrier homeless shelters . It is situated within close proximity to schools, daycares, and residential neighbourhoods. No formal consultation was conducted with businesses and residents prior to implementation efforts.

What's "Low barrier " :

Low Barrier Shelter means an Emergency Shelter that does not require any of the following for a client to stay at the shelter: (i) criminal background checks, (ii) credit checks or income verification, (iii) program participation, (iv) sobriety, or (v) identification. Low Barrier Shelters may, however, enforce safety requirements for self, staff, place, and others.

 

Petition efforts set out to show political representatives and regional decision makers that citizens are asking for a relocation of the proposed shelter and  simultaneously halt implementation efforts while a thorough Investigation and Review of the Proposed Homeless Center at 1635 Dundas St, Whitby is conducted . , Citizens are deeply concerned about the manner in which the property was acquired, with many Councillors sharing the votes were rushed and not enough details shared . While we acknowledge the importance of addressing homelessness in our community, the significant disparity between the purchase price of the property and its previous sold price raises questions about the responsible use of taxpayer funds. We believe that a comprehensive investigation and review are necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in this matter. Our primary concerns are as follows:

Lack of Transparency: Many of us feel that there has been a lack of transparency in the acquisition of the property and the decision to establish a homeless center at this location. We believe that the community should have been better informed and consulted throughout this process

Taxpayer Burden/Excessive Purchase Price:We are deeply troubled by the fact that the property was purchased at a price of $13.7million dollars by the Region of Durham recently,  which is significantly higher than the last 'sold' price of 8 million dollars in January 2023, an overpay of 5. 7 million!. This raises concerns about the wastage of taxpayers' money and calls for a closer examination of the decision-making process. 

Community Impact: We are concerned about the potential impact on our community, including safety, property values, and local businesses. The high purchase price adds to our worries, as we believe these funds could have been better allocated to address homelessness in a more cost-effective manner.

Alternative Solutions: We urge the authorities to explore alternative locations that do not breach proximity zones for schools, daycares and residential homes, examine areas and options that may be more cost-effective and better serve both the homeless population and our community. 

Please sign this petition if you share our concerns. Thank you.

Please sign this petition if you share our concerns. Thank you.