Housing insecurity

By John Meloche Municipal Candidate for Ward 2 in in Pickering Housing insecurity in Pickering and across Durham is not a distant problem, and it is not limited to people sleeping outdoors. It affects workers, families, people recovering from illness, those escaping unsafe homes, and residents moving between couches, cars, temporary rooms, and shelters. I recently met with Margaret Eskin of DARS at her farm house to understand the organization’s work. I expected to hear about homelessness. Instead, I heard a much broader story involving housing instability, mental health, addiction, trauma, illness, gaps in government services, and responsibility being carried by a small local organization. Margaret described people whose housing insecurity may not be obvious: workers, people couch surfing, and a teacher who came to a warming centre with her dog after cancer treatment left her unable to work or afford housing. Some people sleep during the day because it feels safer than sleeping at night. The public often sees only the most visible cases, including open drug use, untreated mental illness, theft, aggression, and legitimate concerns for businesses and residents. But moving someone from one doorway to another does not solve the underlying problem. DARS operates a transitional farm residence in Pickering that houses six people at a time. Approximately 18 people lived there during its first 18 months. Residents are expected to keep the home clean, spend productive time outside the residence, and complete volunteer work. Compassion does not require eliminating responsibility. Routine, accountability, and purpose can help restore dignity. The farm supports that process through gardening, animal care, food recovery, maintenance, and small-engine repair. Residents receive internet access and connections to employment, housing, and income supports. DARS uses head leases. The organization rents a home directly from a landlord and assumes the lease liability while residents build stability and prove they can maintain the property. The goal may eventually be to transfer the lease to the tenants without an unreasonable rent increase. This gives landlords an accountable partner while opening a door for people with poor credit, limited savings, or no recent rental history. DARS provides meals, showers, and outreach. Food is more than nourishment; it builds trust. Someone who avoids a government office may still come for lunch, creating an opportunity to connect them with housing, employment, treatment, or income support. These programs remain financially fragile. The transitional farm receives no direct operating support from Durham Region and relies on City support, grants, donors, fundraising, food partnerships, and volunteers. Proven housing programs should not survive solely on the ability of a small organization to continually raise money. One shelter cannot be the entire answer. Pickering needs a full housing continuum: emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive and recovery housing, shared homes, head leases, treatment, rent supplements, and permanent affordable housing. Different people need different doors. Compassion and accountability are not opposites. Vulnerable people deserve dignity, treatment, housing pathways, and employment support. Residents and businesses also deserve safe, clean public spaces. Police cannot become the default social service, and non-profits cannot carry the entire burden. Many responsibilities belong to Durham Region and senior governments, but Pickering City Council is not powerless. The City can identify service gaps, support proven organizations, build partnerships, advocate for outreach, and demand measurable coordination between housing providers, police, health services, community agencies, and every level of government. DARS is already demonstrating practical local action. We should learn from it. Housing insecurity is already here.