FAQs

No - the City is not opening or funding CTS services at any new or existing sites across the city. The Consumption and Treatment Services currently co-located with the Integrated Care Hub at 362 Montreal Street are managed by Kingston Community Health Centres and funded by the provincial government. This service is regulated by the federal government (Health Canada) with specific locational requirements. Health Canada reviews and approves CTS locations often on private lands and through lease agreements. The City of Kingston is not required to accommodate these services within City owned properties. 

The ICH provides low-barrier and wrap-around services to community members with immediate needs such as safety, food, rest and longer-term needs such as addiction and mental health services. The two main services are:

Consumption and Treatment Services (safe injection site) provides supervised consumption services for people using drugs and is operated by Kingston Community Health Centres with funding from the provincial government. This service is regulated by the federal government (Health Canada) with specific locational requirements. Health Canada reviews and approves Consumption and Treatment Services locations. This service is available 12 hours a day.

The Hub provides drop-in services and shelter for those who need it. People can access showers, washrooms, food, counselling, rest and warm up. Hub services is operated by Addiction & Mental Health Services and funded primarily by the Ministry of Health with a contribution from the City of Kingston. Addiction & Mental Health Services is leasing the 661 Montreal Street property from a private landlord.

Yes! We look forward to holding public information sessions and to supporting community consultation committees for many of the new emergency housing projects. To learn more about engagement opportunities for each new project please follow the specific project page linked below: 

Unsheltered or absolute homelessness is the type of homelessness that is generally thought of when talking about homelessness. It is a narrow concept that includes individuals that are living in public or private spaces without consent, as well as those living in places not fit for permanent human habitation (Statistics Canada).

Emergency sheltered homelessness includes individuals that are currently living in shelters that are specifically designed to temporarily accommodate people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This includes homeless shelters, shelters designed to house those fleeing domestic violence or emergency shelters for those impacted by natural disasters (Statistics Canada).

Transitional supportive housing provides a physical environment that is specifically designed to be safe, secure, enabling, and home-like, with support services such as social services, life skill supports, housekeeping, and social and recreational activities, to maximize residents’ independence, privacy, and dignity (CMHC, 2018). Persons in transitional housing pay rent and live there full time. Transitional housing is intended to support people day-to-day as they work towards independent living.

Overnight sheltering is currently allowed in City Parks from 1 hour before sunset to 1 hour after sunrise. 

As the City opens new Emergency Shelters, it is intentionally selecting sites that are not immediately adjacent to City Parks. Shelter sites are considered private property and camping is not allowed at these locations. 

If person's attempt to set up shelter on these locations they will be required to leave. 

The City has committed to distribution of social and housing services in all areas of Kingston rather than having them focused in a few neighbourhoods. This approach was identified in City Council’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and this location decision aligns with these goals. 

Yes, the City is reviewing the site plan and determining what type of fencing will be added to the property  

Shelters have established standards of operations and behaviour guidelines. These standards aim to balance the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness with the safety and well-being of the community. All shelter users must adhere to shelter safety rules by signing guidelines that focus on ensuring the well-being and security of clients and staff.  Shelters are operated with trained and qualified staff who can manage concerning behaviours.  The City works closely with the Kingston Police in the planning process of the shelter operations, and community safety remains a priority in the planning process.  

The shelter will be a co-ed shelter for adults, (and adults with their pets), offer storage and meals are provided on site. The shelter will operate seven days per week, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. each day. There will also be day services at the site offered to shelter clients. This includes access to washrooms, meals and scheduled programming focused on housing and social services related supports, services and referrals.  

There are many housing programs throughout the City. We understand how the presence of a homeless shelter in your community may raise concerns about property values, safety and overall quality of life in a neighbourhood. The City is committed through the Community Liaison Committee to ensuring these concerns are addressed and that there is an ongoing mechanism to resolve complaints. 

Overnight sheltering is not permitted on any private property in Kingston. This includes the property that the shelter is on and the Cataraqui Cemetery. Anyone trying to set up shelter at these locations will be required to leave.

This shelter will offer day services and operate24/7. That means clients can access services on site, there will also be transportation to assist those who need to get to appointments at other locations. 

Those who are not clients of the shelter will not be allowed on the site. Adjacent properties are all privately owned and anyone loitering will be required to leave.  

Kingston’s Zoning Bylaw allows for uses that respond to an emergency, such as an emergency shelter, to be constructed on a lot in any zone, except for an Environmental Protection Zone (EPA). Any proposed building must meet all requirements of the Zoning By-law, including setbacks, fencing, landscaped open space, etc. to the satisfaction of the City.    

With the use permitted by the Kingston Zoning By-law, the technical studies / reports / drawings are not submitted to determine whether the use can be allowed there. They examine how to facilitate the building on the site and recommend mitigation measures if required. These reports and studies will be made public when the site plan control application is submitted in late June / early July. 

The operator of the shelter is currently unknown. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued  to secure an operator. 

The shelter has a 30-bed capacity. In an emergency, such as, when the City has declared either an extreme cold event or an extreme heat event an additional 15 beds may be added. 

The shelter will be tied into the City’s sewer and water system. It is connected to the City’s sidewalk network and 270m from the nearest bus service. 

The shelter will have four client washrooms, including one barrier-free and one standard shower, as well as a separate staff washroom. This is compliant with the Ontario Building Code. 

Council has provided specific direction to continue moving emergency shelter and transitional/supportive housing across a broader geography to ensure that the concentration of housing/shelter services does not continue to disproportionately affect specific districts or further concentrate and thereby stigmatize vulnerable populations. Properties acquired by the City for a new shelter must meet some key criteria including: being geographically dispersed, on or near transit routes, appropriately sized to support smaller-scale operation for ease of community integration, opportunity to be redeveloped or repurposed in the future, and available to purchase. Once a property is found that meets this criteria the property is brought to City Council for consideration in closed session. Once the property is selected for acquisition it’s then voted on in open session. 

Shelter users will be referred through a case management process with current shelter operators, housing providers and the Street outreach team. 

There are currently no plans to expand shelter services at this location. We understand that a concept plan for a housing development showing three buildings has circulated in the community. However, that plan was part of a previous Realtor.ca listing used to support the property's sale and does not reflect current intentions.