38 Cowdy Street

Adelaide Street Shelter

Since 2023, the property at 38 Cowdy Street (Adelaide Street Shelter) has operated as an emergency shelter and has provided critically needed accommodations to people facing homelessness. The shelter beds and homelessness services provided by Lionhearts Inc. at this location remain much needed in the community and when the shelter operations wind down and eventually cease, the beds and services provided at this site will need to be accommodated elsewhere in the community.

Shelter Operations

Currently, Adelaide Street Shelter has 55 shelter beds available each evening.

Adelaide Street Shelter offers coed shelter for adults over the ageContinue reading

Adelaide Street Shelter

Shelter Operations

Currently, Adelaide Street Shelter has 55 shelter beds available each evening.

Adelaide Street Shelter offers coed shelter for adults over the age of 25, couples are welcome, and storage and meals are provided on site. The shelter currently operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. This includes access to washrooms, meals and scheduled programming and activities, including 3 computers. Initially these day services were only offered on weekends and statutory holidays, but were expanded on May 2, 2025 to include daily on-site supports with a focus on Prevention Diversion, Street Outreach and Day Services programming such as independent living skills.

Wind Down and Relocation of Services

The City has acquired property to facilitate to wind down shelter operations at 38 Cowdy Street.

The first site the City has acquired for this purpose is 924 Sydenham Road. When emergency shelter services open at this new location, the shelter beds offered at 38 Cowdy site will be reduced by approximately half.

On Sept. 7, Council delegated authority to staff to execute and submit conditional offers for the purchase of single detached dwelling units to be used to advance the acquisition of supportive housing properties. These purchases

This approach would ensure that the City can efficiently move forward purchases of single detached homes that can then be transitioned quickly to provide supportive housing services for individuals with low to medium acuity levels. These supportive housing units will target those individuals that have been residing within shelters for an extended period and that are typically ready to move through the housing continuum but have been unable to do so, due to a lack of supportive housing opportunities. These supportive housing units will not serve people with high acuity that are typically sheltering in encampments, but will create capacity in the shelter system, without adding new shelter locations and beds.

Operations and Wind Down Engagement

The City is committed to providing ongoing updates, receiving questions, and guiding a constructive community-led engagement process to the neighbourhood around Adelaide Street Shelter. The intent is to ensure clear and consistent communication with the community about the shelter services currently offered at the site and the steps being taken toward winding down these operations and fully closing shelter services at 38 Cowdy Street.

Upcoming community meeting dates are posted on the right side of this page, under Key Dates. Questions about the current Adelaide Street Shelter operations or the wind down plan for the site can be shared using the question tool below. Staff will aggregate questions by theme and respond through the frequently asked questions section of this project page.

Meeting notes, presentations, council reports and news releases will be shared through the links and related documents section of this project page.

38 Cowdy Street: What We Learned Public Engagement Report
At the near neighbour meeting on Dec. 10 and through the online from Dec. 22, 2025 to Jan. 14 2026, the City accepted comments on the proposed site plans for 38 Cowdy St. We received feedback from over a dozen residents who shared their thoughts on the proposed market housing and park revitalization. Below is a summary of the community feedback which has been sorted according to Support, Concerns and Requests with the existing plans.
Support
Mixed Use (Park + Housing)
- Some residents believe the combined park and market housing plan is a good idea which can add needed green space and address the ongoing housing shortage.
- Others support the idea specifically if:
  - Housing is modest in scale (e.g., townhouses).
  - Some affordable units are included.
Support for Park Improvements
- Strong support for creating a park, gardens, and paths.
- Residents express appreciation for efforts toward green space and improved community amenities.
Concerns
Process
- Some residents shared frustrations with the engagement process as the intention for housing was only discussed in closed Council sessions and did not align with prior community feedback. Specifically residents cited the absences of community ideas from the June 2025 engagement (e.g., community centre, daycare).
- Residents feel they were asked to comment without adequate information (size of parcel, number of lots, zoning, or parkland retained).
- Neighbours want more honesty and transparency around the process and why the sale of public property is necessary for park revitalization. Specifically, some neighbours question why housing must be placed on this site in order to fund the park and whether there are different precedents for funding parks.
Impact on Community & Park Function
- Some neighbours cited that the property is too small to successfully support both a meaningful park and housing.
- Residents also expressed concern of a “big developer” taking over the project.There is fear this form of development may overlook the community’s needs
- Residents were concerned that adding housing will reduce access points and make the park feel like a courtyard for adjacent homes rather than a community space.
- One neighbour also felt reduced sightlines from new housing and fencing could create opportunities for encampments, drug use, and decreased safety.
- Security during shelter wind-down must remain strong; residents do not want the site turned into a new shelter.
Requests
Housing Preferences
- Interest in affordable housing, not just market housing.
- Preference for smaller-scale housing, such as townhouses or small homes—not
- large apartment buildings.
- Desire for housing people can actually afford, given current economic challenges.
Park & Community Space Features
- Requests for:
  - Combined children’s play area and community dog park.
  - Community gardens.
  - A walking path for people and pets.
  - Park space designed for true public use and visibility.
Next Steps
This feedback will be used to inform future engagement events on potential opportunities for lot sizes, location of housing, parkland size, and other considerations. Further engagement events with neighbours will be scheduled as plans for 38 Cowdy St. Progress.
As the new Shelter on Sydenham Road begins a phased opening in February, the winddown at the Adelaide Stree Shelter will proceed as planned. Beds will gradually be reduced as capacity is added to the new shelter. Operations at the Adelaide Street Shelter will end March 31, as shared in December.
Stay subscribed to this page to continue receiving updates
Collecting Feedback on Proposed Housing & Parkland

Dear Residents and Neighbours,
Reminder that a closed comment section was created to provide an opportunity for community members who were unable to attend the community meeting to share their input. Navigate to the "Engagement Opportunities" Tab to add your comments on the current proposal.
Feedback will remain open until January 14, 2026.
All comments will be summarized and shared to Get Involved Kingston. This feedback will be used to inform future engagement events on potential opportunities for lot sizes, location of housing, parkland size, and other considerations.
Near neighbour meeting presentation slides

On Dec. 10, 2025, we hosted a community workshop at Zion Senoirs Housing from 6 to 7:30 p.m., where approximately 20 community members joined in for a conversation about the winddown of the Adelaide Street Shelter and the future use of the 38 Cowdy site.
The meeting included opening remarks from District Councillor Gregory Ridge and a presentation by Jayne Hartley, Director, Housing and Social Services. Kingston Police and Housing and Social Services staff were also in attendance. The meeting slides are provided below for anyone who was unable to attend last week’s meeting. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page has been updated based on the questions and feedback from the meeting.

If you have additional questions about the meeting, please share them with us using the form here on Get Involved Kingston. For other questions, concerns, and reports, please refer to the linked Homelessness Services Who to Call rackcard.

Slide 1: Information Session: Community Meeting Adelaide Street Shelter

Slide 2: Land Acknowledgement

Slide 3: Agenda and guidelines for participation

Slide 4: Major Milestones from Spring Presentation

Slide 5: What we heard from previous engagement

Slide 6: Updated Milestones

Slide 7: Developing Questions

Slide 8: Desired Actions

Slide 9: Thank you
Join us December 10 for Adelaide Street Shelter Community Meeting

Dear Residents and Neighbours,
Thank you for your ongoing interest in the 38 Cowdy Street Project.
We would like to invite you to a near-neighbour meeting and workshop to learn how updates about the shelter are supporting the community, and to share an update on the winddown of Adelaide Street Shelter.
Wednesday, Dec. 10
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Zion Foundation Seniors Housing Complex (Common Room)
106 Pine street
Light refreshments with be served.
To help us with planning, please RSVP by emailing GetInvolvedKingston@CityofKingston.ca
The meeting will take the same format as when we last met in June, with a brief presentation sharing updates from the Housing & Social Services team, followed by facilitated table conversations.
For anyone not able to make the meeting, we will post updates and What We Heard reporting on the Get Involved Kingston page.
Thank you again for your ongoing interest in the project. We look forward to continuing the conversation in a few weeks.
The 38 Cowdy Street Project Team
Update on Adelaide Street Shelter Community Meeting

Hello Adelaide Street Shelter Neighbours,
Thank you for your continued interest in the Adelaide Street Shelter.
In response to community feedback regarding the meeting location at Central Public School, we are rescheduling the upcoming Nov. 13 community meeting to a future date when the cafeteria at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School (Regi) is available. We are currently exploring available dates and will update you as soon as possible.
We appreciate your input and are committed to ensuring the meeting location is accessible and convenient for everyone.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email, or by asking a question on Get Involved Kingston.
Warm regards,
38 Cowdy Street Project team
Please join us at the next community meeting

Dear Residents and Neighbours,
We appreciate your ongoing interest in the operations and winddown of the Adelaide Street Shelter. Since we last met in person in June, we’ve shared updates about the shelter on Get Involved Kingston. We would like to invite you to a near-neighbour meeting and workshop to learn how these updates are supporting the community, and to share an update on the winddown of Adelaide Street Shelter.
Thursday, Nov. 13
5:30-7 p.m.
Central Public School (gymnasium)
237 Sydenham St.
Light refreshments will be served
To help us with planning, please RSVP by emailing GetInvolvedKingston@CityofKingston.ca.
The meeting will take the same format as when we last met, with a brief presentation sharing updates from the Housing & Social Services team, followed by facilitated table conversations.
For anyone not able to make the meeting, updates and What We Heard reporting will be posted on the Get Involved Kingston page.
Thank you again for your ongoing interest in the project, we’re looking forward to continuing the conversation in a few weeks.
38 Cowdy Street Project Team
Upcoming construction work at Adelaide St. Shelter

Dear Neighbours,
We would like to share a quick update about some upcoming activities happening in and around the Adelaide Street Emergency Shelter.
Crane Work – September 4 & 5
The City of Kingston’s Engineering Department is coordinating work with a nearby homeowner that will require the use of a crane. This work will temporarily affect a portion of the roadway on Adelaide St. and the shelter’s parking lot. During this time, shelter staff will need to park on neighbouring streets. Housing staff will be on-site each morning to help facilitate the closure of the lot and part of Frontenac Park.

Excavation Work – Date To Be Determined
Later in September, the City’s Facilities Management & Construction Services (FMCS) team will begin an excavation project to repair rainwater drains that have caused flooding on site. The work will take place in the courtyard outside the building. More details on this project will be shared with you once the schedule is confirmed. Please know that Housing staff and Lionhearts (the shelter operator) will continue to work together closely to keep the site safe and accessible for all guests.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we complete this important work and continue to improve the Adelaide St. Shelter for everyone.
Sincerely,
The Adelaide Shelter team
Adelaide Street Shelter: What We Learned Public Engagement Report
On June 11, 2025, we hosted a community workshop at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic School from 5:30 to 730 p.m., where approximately 60 community members joined in for a conversation about the Adelaide Street Shelter.

The workshop was structured around moderated table conversations, with approximately 8 to 12 participants seated at five different tables. This format encouraged participants to share their experiences, voice concerns, and collaboratively brainstorm possibilities for the site’s redevelopment as part of a future visioning exercise after shelter operations wind down.

To guide the engagement, the conversation was broken into two segments focused on hearing responses to three questions:
- What are your current concerns and feedback about the Adelaide Street Shelter?
- How could the site be used after emergency shelter operations wind down?
- How would you like to be involved going forward?
Conversations were moderated and documented by City staff. The following is a summary of all feedback received, categorized by the themes mentioned most often by participants. Questions and comments received during the workshop were also incorporated into an updated FAQ section on Get Involved Kingston.

Maps and workshop materials are pictured on a table.

Current concerns and feedback

Participants were asked to describe or point out on a map activities and areas of concern. They were also asked to share ideas for mitigating concerns, both in the short and mid-term, as the shelter moves towards winding down.

Maintenance and neighbourhood cleanliness
- Fencing: Participants shared confusion and frustration over placement, maintenance, and effectiveness of the fencing that was installed. Some people felt that the new fencing created a feeling of seclusion, and others mentioned the chain link fence and gates are often damaged.
- Park and neighbourhood cleanliness: Needles, garbage, and lack of public washrooms for people not accessing day services are ongoing issues. Illegal dumping and debris, including branches and wood, were specifically noted by some participants.
- Lighting and Noise: Light pollution from the shelter, noise from gatherings and altercations were among the most frequently noted concerns.
Shelter Operations and Client Supports
- Safety and Security: Participants shared reports of violence and verbal abuse between people outside of the shelter (on the street and sidewalks). Most participants also had concerns about the effectiveness of the security protocols in place.
- Police Response: Perceived disparity in response times between residents and shelter staff. Some participants requested more visible and effective policing.
- Outreach and Support Improvements: Request for 24/7 outreach workers, addiction counsellors, and better coordination among agencies to ensure people are accessing the available services. Some participants also would like to see more communication from the City and the shelter operator about the mandates for the different agencies, and suggested that for shelter staff, uniforms or another type of identifying clothing would be helpful.
Future Vision and Ideas
- Community Amenities: Suggestions included a larger park, recreation centre, library kiosk, artist gallery, music lending library, rehearsal spaces, intergenerational programming, and outdoor sports facilities (e.g., pickleball, table tennis).
- Housing: Strong interest in deeply affordable housing, including townhouses and low-income units. Some support for reusing or demolishing the current building. Some participants expressed opposition to housing on the site and would rather see the site repurposed for community amenities.
- Community Centre: A flexible, multi-use space for all ages, modelled after places like Skeleton Park or Friendship Park.
- Green Space: Expanded tree canopy, community gardens, community ice rink, splash pads, and BBQ pits. Recognition of the community connection to the former school site, and how it could be commemorated, was important to some participants.
Next steps

Community members were encouraged to complete a brief survey on Get Involved Kingston which let us know how they wanted to be involved in the project moving forward, considering the planned wind-down of emergency shelter operations at this location. The project team put forward ideas such as, a community liaison committee, continued open engagement sessions or other suggestions brought forward from the community.

City staff, in collaboration with partner agencies, implemented changes at the emergency shelter, including:
- Increasing the frequency of neighbourhood clean ups, including sharps pick ups.
- Cleaning up the wood and other debris that was left in the alley near the shelter.
- Advancing a strategy to appoint Bylaw Enforcement staff as special constables, which was approved by Council on June 17 and is expected to be in place by the end of 2026.
- Entering into a lease agreement with Lionhearts Inc., and temporarily closing public access to Frontenac Park until shelter operations wind down. This would restrict access to the outdoor greenspace to those taking part in day programs such as fitness and gardening classes.
- Making available a Who To Call information card for community members to reach out to organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness.
Community Update: Changes to Security Services at Adelaide Street Shelter

Dear Neighbours,
We want to share an important update regarding the Adelaide Street Shelter at 38 Cowdy Street.
As you know, the shelter has recently undergone several changes including the temporary closure of Frontenac Park, installation of temporary fencing to support expansion of day services and programming and a reduction in the number of shelter beds. To support these changes the City is excited to work with Allied Universal Security who have extensive experience and training in supporting shelter and day service programs at other locations and are familiar with the unique needs of shelter clients. Allied Security will begin providing on site services starting July 25, 2025. We look forward to the continued positive changes at Adelaide Street Shelter.
We also want to take this opportunity to remind you that we are still receiving feedback on the format for future engagement opportunities. If you haven’t already, please visit Get Involved Kingston to complete a short survey to tell us whether you’d like to have a Community Liaison Committee formed, have ongoing in-person engagements, or a combination of both. We will close the survey on July 31, and it only takes a few minutes to let us know and will help us understand the ways in which you’d like to remain involved and informed.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work together to foster a safe and welcoming neighbourhood.
Warm regards,
The Adelaide Shelter Team
New FAQ responses available

We’re pleased to share that new responses to frequently asked questions are now available on the project page. These updates reflect the ongoing conversations we’re having with community members at in-person meetings, questions sent through Get Involved Kingston and comments and questions shared with the project team through your District Councillor.
We continue to work closely with agency partners such as Kingston Police and Lionhearts to provide answers to your questions and appreciate your patience while we’ve worked to compile this information on Get Involved Kingston.
As the project moves forward, we encourage you to stay involved by letting us know how you’d like to participate. Visit the project pages to read the latest updates and share your input.