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Outreach and Support Groups

HomeFire Services and Community SupportUnsheltered or HomelessnessOutreach and Support Groups
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The safety and health of our community members is one of the City's top priorities. The City of Oshawa is leading change by finding new and innovative ways to help those who are unsheltered and most vulnerable in our community. Through partnerships, we reach out to service providers and other cities to find local, compassionate solutions.

Mayor's Task Force on Community Safety, Security and Well-Being

The Mayor's Task Force on Community Safety, Security and Well-Being brings together community stakeholders to identify and propose opportunities to address community safety, security and well-being issues facing the city.

Task force details 

If you see it, report it!

The "If you see it, report it" campaign calls on community members to non-criminal and nuisance related issues to Service Oshawa and criminal activity to Durham Regional Police Service to make a safer community.

If you see it, report it!

Unsheltered Outreach

Working together with Durham Region's Primary Care Outreach Program, community service providers, the Durham Regional Police Service mobile response team and the City's Municipal Law Enforcement team – there is continuous contact with unsheltered residents.

Visit the Finding Help webpage for information on emergency shelters and for contact information on how to report debris / discarded needles in a City park, trail, greenspace or facility to report illegal activity in our public spaces.

Find help

On Point Program

The On Point program facilitates the removal of used needles and drug paraphernalia from parks, trails and greenspaces. The program provides employment and support to individuals working under the program who have experienced mental health issues, addiction or living unsheltered.

We are measuring the success of the program. As of March 31, 2021:

  • 4 individuals are currently employed as On Point Workers
  • 50+ different areas across the city including 2 new routes
  • 19,644 discarded used needles since beginning of program
  • 81 pieces of hardware and 118 substances found
  • 120 needle pick-up calls
  • 49,242 discarded pieces of substance paraphernalia since beginning of program

On Point is being partially funded through the Community Homeless Prevention Initiative (C.H.P.I.). The initial funding amount for this project is $104,400:

  • C.H.P.I. is contributing a baseline amount of approximately $63,000
  • The City of Oshawa is contributing $36,400 for the wages of the individuals
  • The Region of Durham is providing the safety/equipment kits for the program participants (approximately $5,000) as well as evaluating the program

Please do not pick up a used needle with your hands. For more information on how to protect yourself if you find a needle on City or your own property see information below on safe needle disposal units.

To report illegal activity (e.g. drug use, thefts, vandalism, aggressive behaviour), please contact Durham Region Police Services at 905-579-1520 or [email protected].

Welcoming Streets

Providing targeted street outreach services to vulnerable individuals, as well as education and training to businesses in our downtown.

Through this initiative, community-based outreach workers serve as a point of first contact and help connect those who are vulnerable to services that they need while providing support, education and training to downtown businesses.

Safe needle disposal units

The City in collaboration with John Howard Society of Durham Region, provides and installs safe needle disposal units in priority City parks and greenspaces. The John Howard Society of Durham Region monitors the units and takes care of the proper disposal of the sharps collected as part of their Project X-Change program. The units are located in:

  • Brick Valley Park 
  • Cordova Park
  • John Street Bridge
  • Kinsmen Valleyview Park
  • North Oshawa Park
  • Memorial Park
  • Michael Starr Trail (south of Bruce Street)
  • Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path (near City Hall)
  • Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens
  • Rotary Park
  • Rundle Park
  • Storie Park
  • Sunnyside Park
  • behind The Robert McLaughlin Art Gallery

To report a discarded needle or sharp found in a City park, please contact Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311.

Be safe

Community members are reminded that if a needle or sharp is found on your property:

  • Do not pick it up with your hands - use tongs, pliers or tweezers and pick it up with the needle tip down and away from you.
  • Place a plastic container or glass jar on a stable surface, seal it with tape, and add a sharps label.
  • Take the container to a participating pharmacy for safe disposal.
  • Do not throw needles/containers in the garbage.
  • If accidentally poked by a discarded syringe, let the wound bleed freely and proceed immediately to the hospital for assessment.

Resources

Below are just some of the many active service organizations and service groups in our community.

  • Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty
  • Carea Community Health Centre
  • CAMH: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Cornerstone Community Association Durham
  • Durham Outlook for the Needy
  • Feed the Need Durham
  • Gate 3:16 Outreach Centre
  • John Howard Society of Durham Region
  • Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  • Pinewood Addiction Services
  • Salvation Army
  • Simcoe Hall Settlement House
  • The Refuge Youth Outreach Centre
  • United Way
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Contact Us

© 2022 City of Oshawa

Service Oshawa
1st Floor, West Wing, City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: [email protected]

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