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.
