Posted On: February 25th, 2026, Posted By: Lisa Queen, YorkRegion.com, Original Article.
As the number of York Region residents experiencing homelessness grows, Blue Door is quintupling its goal of securing housing for those in need.
The news comes just in advance of this year’s Coldest Night of the Year on Feb. 28 to raise money for local charities supporting people experiencing homelessness.
Based in East Gwillimbury, Blue Door is York Region’s largest non-profit emergency housing provider.
Blue Door’s Housing for All Land Trust
Two years ago, it launched the Housing for All Land Trust, which seeks to engage with community partners to acquire and preserve properties in perpetuity to ensure they remain affordable and are protected from market forces that drive up prices and rents.
“The mission is simple — protect affordable housing and create homes that will always stay affordable so people in the York Region community always have a dignified place they can afford to live,” Emily Kelly, chief operating officer, said.
“Housing is what ends homelessness and Housing for All helps make sure those homes remain affordable for generations.”
Blue Door’s initial goal was to create 200 housing units.
But given the growing need in the region, the organization has now boosted that number to 1,000 over 10 years.
‘Deeply troubling’
“Homelessness in York Region is growing and becoming more visible,” Kelly said.
“Behind every number is a real person, a family, a senior or a young person who cannot find a home they can afford. It is deeply troubling, but it is solvable if we create more affordable homes.”
Kelly admits the new goal is ambitious, but Blue Door is determined to help as many residents experiencing homelessness as it can.
“Blue Door has always helped people who don’t have a home, but building homes at this level is new for us, so it felt big and daunting,” she said.
“What gave us hope was hearing from the community and knowing that when many groups work together, big change is possible. The 1,000-home goal shows how serious the need is, and (bolsters) Blue Door’s commitment to grow, collaborate with others and help more people have a safe place to live.”
Jump in homelessness
Homelessness continues to rise.
About 85,000 Ontario residents, including 20,000 children and youth, experienced homelessness last year, Kelly said.
In York Region, about 2,500 people experienced homelessness in 2024 — a 40 per cent year-over-year increase, she said.
“Blue Door operates York Region’s largest emergency housing programs, all at capacity,” Kelly said.
“Emergency housing is critically in crisis, but housing is the long-term solution to homelessness.”
Through the land trust, homes in York Region are already being created.
In Newmarket, the former Kevin’s Place shelter on Gorham Street is being redeveloped from housing 10 people to homes for up to 36 people. It’s scheduled to open in October.
Nine additional home units have been acquired across Markham, Newmarket and Richmond Hill and are already housing vulnerable families, seniors and individuals, Kelly said.