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This November, 2022, local schools, businesses and churches are bringing lasting change to homeless & street youth in our community by participating in the Durham Day of Change! The Day of Change is a fun & easy fundraiser that raises money for The Refuge, a charitable drop-in centre serving homeless, hungry, and hurting youth aged 16-26 in the Durham Region. Last year, 11 schools from the DDSB, DCDSB, and KPRDSB; 3 local businesses and 2 local churches participated and raised over $9,000 in one day! All funds raised went directly to support The Refuge's life-changing programs for youth suffering from or at risk of homeless in Durham Region.
The Day of Change brings about relevant discussion regarding youth homelessness and a friendly competition between classrooms, businesses and church groups, which encourages everyone to work together to make a difference in our community. The Day of Change is easy to implement, fun for participants, and a fantastic way to support the vulnerable in our community. Each year, The Refuge serves over 18,000 meals and snacks to nearly 500 individual youth who use our services between 9,000-10,000 times.
By participating in the Day of Change, you can give hope and dignity to the youth suffering or at risk of homeless in our community. Your contribution goes directly towards providing them with hot meals, necessities such as hot showers, laundry facilities, clothing, food, household essentials and bus fair, as well as transformative programs and counselling to provide life skills and positive healing.
This year our main focus is on our new building, at 357 Simcoe St S, Oshawa, (formerly Holy Cross Catholic School). This new building is going to have 26 affordable housing units for youth through the Housing First program. Each unit is a furnished studio apartment, fully equipped with a kitchen & bathroom. Included facilities in the building are: storage, laundry, and a common room for youth to be in community with each other. Along with a full gymnasium and the new Refuge space, where we can do everything we do now, but even more!
The Refuge community needs the support of the Durham Region to bring lasting change to homeless and street youth. Together we can provide change to youth in Durham Region in new and innovative ways, helping them reach their full potential.
It’s not too late to be a part of the Durham Day of Change! Please email Tanya Wadden (
