Posted On: July 21, 2026, Posted By: Yoyo Yan, AuroraToday, Original Article.
As heat waves become more frequent across Ontario, Blue Door is keeping two York Region emergency shelter sites open year-round for a second consecutive year, providing vulnerable residents with refuge from both bitter winter cold and dangerous summer temperatures.
Originally designed as a seasonal program operating from October to March, Blue Door’s Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program now runs throughout the year at two locations: Victory Baptist Church in East Gwillimbury and Rouge Valley Mennonite Church in Markham.
Together, the sites provide 65 beds each night, including 30 beds in East Gwillimbury and 35 in Markham, offering not only shelter but also meals, air-conditioned spaces and connections to housing and support services.
The expansion comes as Ontario experiences increasingly severe summer heat. The season began with a prolonged heat wave that pushed daytime temperatures into the mid-30s, with humidex values approaching 40C. Health officials warned that extreme heat poses particular risks to seniors, people with chronic illnesses and those experiencing homelessness.
“Blue Door is pleased to offer these vital services year-round, especially during the extreme heat this summer,” said Debbie Schatia, Blue Door’s chief executive officer.
“There continues to be an increased need for services for individuals most in need. By providing a safe bed, food and trusting relationships, we have an opportunity to connect service users to community supports and housing, ideally reducing the need for emergency services.”
Blue Door expanded the program in response to rising homelessness and housing insecurity across York Region, where service providers say more people are struggling to find stable housing.
“Expanding this program reflects the reality we’re seeing every day, which is that more people are experiencing homelessness and need a safe place to be, no matter the season,” said Karen Al-Massad, Blue Door’s director of affordable and transitional housing.
“While emergency shelter is critical, our focus at Blue Door is always on helping people move into permanent housing and continuing to find innovative, long-term solutions that reduce the need for emergency services in the first place.”
Founded in 1982, Blue Door has grown from York Region’s first emergency housing provider for men into the region’s largest shelter organization. In addition to emergency housing, the organization offers programs aimed at addressing the root causes of homelessness and improving access to employment, health care and permanent housing.
To learn more about Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold, explore Blue Door’s programs, or find ways to get involved through volunteering or donating, visit https://bluedoor.ca/programs/seasonal/.