The Pickering Ledger A Home Beyond the Suburbs: The Unseen Struggle with Homelessness in Pickering
By Sarah Jenkins, Staff Reporter PICKERING, ON — September 11, 2025
Beneath the polished facade of Pickering’s lakeside trails and bustling community centers, a different story is unfolding. It is a story not of luxury homes and planned communities, but of people navigating life without a fixed address. While the Region of Durham has made strides with its “At Home in Durham” initiative, and the City of Pickering participates in broader regional support systems, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness is quietly but steadily rising, revealing a complex issue often hidden in plain sight.
For decades, the issue of homelessness has been seen by many residents as a problem confined to larger urban centers like Toronto or Oshawa. Yet, as affordability in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) continues to plummet and the demand for rental housing outstrips supply, Pickering has found itself at the front lines of a growing crisis. The faces of homelessness here are not always what one might expect. They are often families, single parents, and young people who have been priced out of the housing market or have nowhere to go after a family breakdown. Many are the “hidden homeless,” sleeping in cars, on friends’ couches, or in temporary shelters in neighboring municipalities, far from the city’s core.
The lack of a dedicated, permanent shelter within Pickering’s own city limits places an immense strain on those in crisis. While organizations like the Community Development Council Durham (CDCD) and Herizon House offer critical services for women and children in Ajax/Pickering, and the Region provides a 24/7 street outreach team, individuals often face the difficult decision to travel to Oshawa or Ajax for a bed for the night. This journey adds layers of logistical challenges, from securing transportation to navigating a new environment and losing a sense of community. “It’s a barrier,” explains a local social worker, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their clients. “For someone without a car, getting from Pickering to a shelter in Oshawa is not a simple bus ride. It’s time, money, and emotional energy they may not have.”
The City of Pickering has responded with a more collaborative approach, working with the Durham Region’s Housing Stability Program to provide financial assistance for last month’s rent deposits and prevent evictions. Yet, these preventative measures are often a temporary fix for a deeper problem. The real estate market, with its soaring prices and competitive bidding wars, makes it nearly impossible for people with low to moderate incomes to find a place to live.
One of the most visible signs of this struggle is the increase in tent encampments near secluded areas, such as behind industrial parks or in forested areas near major highways. While these camps offer a sense of community and security for those who have nowhere else to go, they also pose significant health and safety risks. The city’s response, as outlined in an internal memo obtained by The Pickering Ledger, is a delicate balance between enforcement and compassion. City staff are trained to connect individuals with the Region’s outreach workers rather than simply displacing them, but the process is slow, and resources are limited.
The community’s response is a mix of sympathy and frustration. Local food banks and charities, like those operated by the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul, are seeing record demand. At a recent city council meeting, a local business owner voiced concerns about visible poverty near their storefront, sparking a heated debate about the city’s responsibility. Councillor Jane Miller spoke passionately, arguing that addressing homelessness is not just a moral obligation but an economic necessity. “This is not a problem we can sweep under the rug,” she stated. “These are our neighbors, and their struggles affect the entire community.”
Looking forward, the report from the Region of Durham’s “At Home in Durham” review acknowledged the need for more diverse housing solutions, including more supportive and transitional housing options. The fictional “Pickering Housing Task Force,” a committee of local advocates, business leaders, and city officials, has put forward a proposal for a new “Community Hub” model. This hub would not only offer emergency shelter but also provide on-site access to health services, employment counseling, and mental health support, creating a more holistic and dignified pathway out of homelessness.
While the path ahead is long and complex, the conversation is finally shifting from “do we have a problem?” to “what can we do about it?” The hope is that through continued collaboration between the city, the region, and the community, Pickering can live up to its promise of being a safe and welcoming place for all, regardless of their circumstances. The silent crisis is no longer silent, and its solution lies in the collective action of a compassionate and committed community.
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