Salvation Army ends housing program in Durham Region after funding cuts — and some landlords says it owes them

The Salvation Army is ending a rental housing program supporting over 200 people in Durham Region after the region cut funding  — and two landlords say the charity still owes them tens of thousands of dollars.  

The program began in partnership with the region in 2017. The Salvation Army signed time-limited guarantee agreements with landlords for rent payments on behalf of the tenants, said Gina Haggett, the charity's divisional director for public relations in Ontario.

But as the program winds down this month, 88 adults and 114 children will no longer be supported. Durham Region withdrew its funding support in May, Haggett said in an email to CBC News. 

The Salvation Army “urged” the region to transfer the program to another operator rather than end it, but the region declined, she said.

Haggett said the charity chose to continue covering program costs for several months “to prevent hardship and to allow time for alternative supports to be established.” 

“Our focus continues to be the people affected, and we continue to work with tenants, landlords and community partners to minimize the disruption and coordinate a safe, orderly transition,” Haggett says.

The program is ending as some 964 people are experiencing homelessness in Durham Region, according to data from July.  

Lisa McIntosh, director of income, employment and homelessness supports for Durham Region, declined to say why the region ended the funding.

The region has a variety of agreements with agencies that provide housing support services, she said. 

“We do end agreements according to the terms set out when there isn't consistent compliance with the requirements,” she said. 

McIntosh said the region has been supporting tenants who will be affected as the program ends by providing them “timely information … and access to relevant resources.” 

Meanwhile, landlord Jennifer Johnson says she is planning to file a lawsuit against the Salvation Army, saying the charity failed to meet the terms of their rent guarantor agreement.

She says the Salvation Army is not repairing extensive damage to two properties she rented out through the program — including broken and missing appliances, damaged floors and counters, and holes in walls.