Posted On: May 31, 2025, Posted By: Emmy Kelly, NewmarketToday, Original Article.
Housing for All Land Trust integrates essential support services, which provides a stable foundation for vulnerable individuals to rebuild their lives with dignity
For over 40 years, Blue Door has been on the frontlines providing York Region with essential emergency housing. However, emergency housing alone will not solve the homelessness crisis.
Beginning with only three programs, Blue Door has now expanded and created over 10 innovative programs to address the crisis holistically, by introducing transitional housing, support services, health support, and employment opportunities to help vulnerable individuals rebuild their lives. But it does not stop here.
Affordable housing is disappearing, vacancy rates are at record lows, and the safety nets designed to protect vulnerable individuals in crisis are failing to catch the thousands teetering on the edge of homelessness.
The situation is urgent — immediate action is required.
To address this growing crisis, Blue Door launched the Housing for All Land Trust (HALT). A transformative solution that acquires donated land and housing units and places them into a land trust, meaning land and housing will be permanently protected from market pressures, ensuring long-term affordability.
HALT is more than just housing. By integrating essential support services, HALT provides a stable foundation for vulnerable individuals to rebuild their lives with dignity. However, for HALT to reach its full potential, collaboration is crucial.
York Region’s housing crisis demands a collective response. Blue Door urges all levels of government, developers, private sector leaders, and non-profits to prioritize the development of deeply affordable housing. Community champions and advocates must also push for meaningful change.
This isn’t just about housing, it’s about ensuring that everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.
The numbers underscore the severity of the crisis. As found by York Region, only 15 per cent of new housing in the region is affordable, while homelessness has risen nearly 35 per cent from 2023 to 2024. Emergency and transitional housing is regularly at or near full capacity, and in 2024 alone, at least 2,525 individuals were identified as experiencing homelessness.
Without immediate intervention, experts warn that York Region could see an unprecedented rise in homelessness. If current trends continue, as many as 80,000 individuals Ontario could be at risk in the coming years. The time to act is now.
HALT is about protecting the most vulnerable members of our community. It provides safe, affordable housing for youth aging out of care, multi-bedroom homes for families, and secure, accessible housing for seniors. It prioritizes at-risk populations, including Indigenous communities, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ people, low-income populations, newcomers, and individuals with disabilities, ensuring that no one is left behind.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of key supporters. TD Bank Group, Regional Municipality of York Region, United Way Greater Toronto, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and McLean Foundation have been instrumental in helping launch HALT, providing the funding and resources necessary to address the crisis in a meaningful way. Their contributions have laid the foundation for what will be a transformational initiative in the region.
The plan is in place. The expertise is there. Now is the time to act.
This is a defining moment. The housing crisis won’t solve itself, but with commitment and collaboration we can build a future where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.
To get involved, you can reach out to halt@bluedoor.ca or to learn more about the Housing for All Land Trust and help spread the word, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XceQpF19Lcs