By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express The number of people waiting for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing in Durham dipped in 2018, but still remains nearly double from a decade ago. The region recently released its early report regarding the RGI housing wait list and Durham Access to Social Housing (DASH), the system which residents apply for housing. As of December 31, 2018, there were 6,555 low income applicants on the DASH wait list for an RGI unit, along with 80 applicants for modified units. About five per cent, or 345, of those applications have special priority status under provincial legislation. These applicants are often victims of human trafficking or family violence, where the applicant intends to permanently separate from an abusive family member with whom they are residing. Applicants with special priority are given first access to available units. Of the 6,555 applicants on the wait-list, families represent the highest demographic at 2,789 or 42.6 per cent. There are 1,883 single residents (28.7 per cent), 1,792 seniors (27.3 per cent) and 90 couples. Families represent nearly 69 per cent of all special priority applicants. While the wait list was down from 7,075 from the end of 2017, the 2018 levels were still … Continue reading Wait list for social housing decreases