FAQ

North House is a not-for-profit registered charity that offers a variety of supports related to housing and homelessness prevention to those in the North Durham community that are low-income and in-need. Please see our What We Do section to learn more about what we offer.

North House services the north Durham Region townships of Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge.

No. We are not a shelter. If you are in need of a place to go immediately, call our office at 1-877-406-8723 and we will assist by making a call for you to find out if there is a bed available at a shelter closest to you. You can also visit our emergency shelter page to see the contact information of the shelters in Durham Region.

No. North House provides service to north Durham only. Those needing housing supports that reside in the southern part of Durham Region (Bowmanville, Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Brooklin) must access services in their area. If you live in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Whitby or Brooklin, please contact the John Howard Society at (905) 579-8482. If you live in Ajax or Pickering, please contact the Community Development Council Durham at (905) 686-2661.

Individuals currently residing outside of Durham Region must seek services within their community. Most programs in Durham Region require the individual be a resident for 90 days. If you are unable to find a housing support program in your area, feel free to give us a call at 1-877-406-8723 and we will help to connect you to an agency in your area.

Our office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please note that our outreach workers are often out in the community with clients so it is recommended that you call ahead to ensure someone is available.

Yes! You are welcome to walk-in to receive service from Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM. However, it is advised that you call in advance to ensure a caseworker will be available.

You can contact our outreach staff via email or phone to schedule an appointment. Please visit our Contact Us page for our contact information.

Yes. Our services are free to low-income individuals and families.

Individuals accessing North House services must meet the following annual income levels:

Single: Up to $40,000 annual income
Family: Up to $50,000 annual income

You do not have to be a Canadian Citizen; however you have to have legal status in Canada.

Front line staff are required to have completed a diploma as a Social Service Worker, or a degree in Social Work. They must also be registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

North House is proud to have a Housing First program for north Durham which offers intensive case management support to those experiencing chronic homelessness. If you are unsheltered (living rough, staying outside, sleeping in vehicle), staying in emergency housing (emergency shelter, shelter for those fleeing domestic violence), or are provisionally accommodated or staying in a place without security of tenancy (couch surfing, motel, substandard living conditions such as a trailer, abandoned building etc.) and have a history of housing instability, please contact our outreach staff to be added to the By-Name List where you will be placed on a wait list for the Housing First program should you qualify. Housing First serves individuals over the age of 18, and families. These services are based on prioritized need.

If you are experiencing homelessness and do not have access to laundry and shower, you can contact us at 289-640-1929 or housing@northhouse.ca to book an appointment to use our facilities. Usage is by appointment only, and there is a limit of two loads of laundry per appointment. We will contact you within 2 business days to schedule you in for your first appointment.

North House receives annual funding from several different sources. We also rely on the generosity of our community to bridge-the-gap by donating or attending fundraisers.

While we try to service anyone who needs our help, however our services are available to those over the age of 18. Individuals aged 16-24 may be referred to youth services to best meet their needs.

We do not currently have a waitlist for services. We do receive a high volume of calls and visits to our office and we will try our best to meet your needs in a timely manner.

We do our best to accommodate all situations. Please call our office and speak to an outreach worker and they will meet you in the community close to home if you lack a means of transportation. We can also accommodate home visits if you are immobile.

Yes, our office is fully accessible.

Yes! As a not-for-profit charitable organization, we rely on donations from the community to keep our doors open. We, as an agency, have fundraisers throughout the year to raise money that goes directly toward helping the residents of North Durham.

We accept cash, credit card, or cheques payable to North House.

Yes. If you make a donation of twenty dollars or greater, you will receive an official tax receipt.

While we truly appreciate that community members want to donate to our clients, we are limited for storage space. Please contact our Office Coordinator regarding your donation. If we are unable to store the items in-office, we will ensure they safely arrive to a local non-profit in the community!

We always appreciate volunteers! Volunteers are critical to the operation of our fundraising events. Our day-to-day office cannot support volunteers due to confidentiality and lack-of-space, but we are happy to accept help on event/fundraising days. Email info@northhouse.ca to find out how you can help.

As of January 2023, our office has reopened to the public and has resumed regular services.