Town of Ajax dealing with ‘crisis situation’ after influx of refugees

The town of Ajax in the Greater Toronto Area says a crisis is brewing after more than 200 displaced newcomers arrived in just one week's time, and resources are already maxed out.

Officials with the town of Ajax, Ont., say in less than two weeks, the town has seen more than 200 asylum seekers arrive, creating a dire situation as shelters across Durham Region are at capacity.

Durham’s regional chair John Henry says the influx of refugees is something they’re not equipped for.

“We were never designed as a level of government to try to manage these problems,” says Henry.

Since the end of June, the town of Ajax has been transformed as the unsheltered set up anywhere they can for refuge. A similar situation has unfolded in Toronto at the shelter on Peter Street.

James Dark with the Salvation Army in Ajax says the situation was completely unexpected.

“It kind of caught everyone in the town of Ajax and the region off guard,” he says.

Dark says it appeared to have started with one phone call he received from colleagues at a GTA shelter.

“We got a phone call asking us here at the Salvation Army if we could provide food for refugees arriving here from Toronto,” he says.