Company Profile
Company Overview
Cornerstone Community Association Durham Inc. is a United Way agency that has been serving the needs of people without housing in Durham Region since 1967.
Our Mission
To provide all necessary and possible resources to enable the re-integration of marginalized individuals into our communities.
Our Goal
To provide opportunities for re-integration so that people without housing can make the transition from homelessness to home; from the margins of our communities to full membership (citizenship) with all of its rights and responsibilities.
Operational Principles:
People in need of housing are a resource and must be engaged as partners in establishing the vision, setting the goals and objectives and carrying out the work of creating opportunities for re-integration.
The transition from life without housing to life with a permanent home requires more than bricks and mortar. It is the transition from a life of vulnerability and isolation to a life of security within community. Those who are actively involved in making this transition need to have access to an appropriate level of support throughout the process.
People without housing should have as much choice as possible in determining the type of housing and the level of support that they need in order to live successfully in our community.
Who Do We Serve?
Cornerstone provides a range of housing, community development and support services to people without housing and/or those just released from an institutional setting. Those we serve are over the age of 16, the majority of whom are single men. This is a diverse and changing group. In recent years the increased numbers of people without housing have meant that the traditional stereotype of the homeless person has become less accurate than ever.
It is true that if one looks at people without housing as a group certain characteristics will emerge. For instance, one will find a number of traits that occur in proportionately greater numbers among the homeless than they do in the general population (ie: mental illness, addictions, disabilities, etc.). It must be noted, however, that none of these characteristics apply to the whole population.
Although these factors may contribute to the individual’s loss of housing, they cannot be described as the cause of their homelessness. On the other hand, they do underline the need for adequate and appropriate support services as people attempt to make the transition from homelessness to home.
Finally, it should be recognized that there are serious limitations to any analysis that looks at people without housing as a homogeneous group. Ultimately, each individual in need of housing has a different story and deals with a unique reality.
A Continuum of Housing, A Range of Service & Support....
The following programs and housing options represent a continuum of supportive housing that we make available to people who are homeless. This model recognizes the need to link shelters with transitional and permanent affordable housing. Within this continuum we encourage people, when they feel they are ready, to move from locations and programs that offer higher levels of support to locations that afford less support and greater independence.
Our continuum consists of the following programs:
• Emergency Shelter
Temporary shelter was provided to over 900 people in the past year.
Beds: 34 – 40 with overflow cots
Stay: 14 nights (average)
Support: On-site staffing 24 hours, 7 days/week
Next Steps: Transitional Program, private housing, another Region or continued homelessness
• Community Residential Facility (CRF)
This program provides for community integration of individuals returning from federal correctional facilities.
Beds: 16
Stay: 3 - 6 months (average)
Support: On site staffing 24 hours, 7 days/week
Next Steps: Transitional Program, private housing
• Transitional Program
This program offers a supportive setting where individuals can begin to stabilize and develop the basic skills to live independently as responsible tenants. Three of the beds are dedicated to supporting people in recovery from an addiction.
Beds: 10
Stay: Indefinite
Support: 40 hours/week, access to 24 hour shelter staffing and on-call Next Steps: apartment at 133 Simcoe, 454 Bloor or private housing
• Apartments (133 Simcoe Street South)
These are permanent units that offer a balance between support and independence.
Units: 18
Stay: Indefinite
Support: 40 hours/week, access to 24 hour shelter staffing and on-call
Next Steps: 454 Bloor, Northview Meadows Cooperative, Heritage Community Housing - Cormack Station, other non-profits, private housing
• 454 Bloor Street East
This building offers greater independence yet still affords ready access to support.
Units: 28
Stay: Indefinite
Support: On-site staffing 40 hours/week and on-call
Next Steps: Northview Meadows Cooperative, Heritage Community Housing - Cormack Station, other non-profits, private housing
• Northview Meadow Cooperative Homes and Heritage Community Housing - Cormack Station
These buildings offer a high degree of independence with limited support.
Units: 19 (total)
Stay: Indefinite
Support: On-call
Next Steps: Other non-profits and private housing
Company History
Cornerstone had its official opening in October of 1967 after much public attention and community reaction to men congregating in Memorial Park and other areas of the downtown core of Oshawa. During this time the police department was lodging men in jail cells and it became very apparent that another long term solution needed to be developed.
A group of concerned local organizations and clergy worked together to develop what was then called the Men’s Hostel. The original location had its beginnings in a building on King St. located in core of Oshawa’s downtown. During the next four years as the Men’s Hostel began to develop and expand it became apparent for the need for a new and larger location to better meet the needs of those accessing services. The new location was found at 381 Simcoe St. South Hostel Services in 1971. It was later in 1974 the Board confirmed their name change service Hostel Services (Oshawa) Inc. It was in 1983 that Hostel Services began their first agreement at this location with the Federal Correctional Services.
During the late 1980’s Hostel Services had the opportunity to purchase our present location at 133 Simcoe St. South from the Salvation Army which was relocating at that time. The building along with the two houses was purchased and renovated to accommodate the second and third floor apartments, the emergency hostel and CRF program, and Transitional rooms. It was later in 1991 that our organization changed its name to reflect the continuum of services – Cornerstone Community Association Durham Inc. To continue along with our continuum of supportive housing 454 Bloor St. was built in partnership with all levels of Government. Cornerstone staff also supported founding Boards of Directors on Cormack Station (Whitby) and Northview Meadows Cooperative (North Oshawa) where additional Cornerstone housing units are allocated.