Jan 21. Meeting Summary
At the end of January, we held our third Community Liaison Committee (CLC) meeting. The following is a summary of the discussions, including questions and answers.
After acknowledging the territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron–Wendat, the CLC committee voted to approve the terms of reference. Members elected to keep meeting summaries and reports anonymous, out of respect for privacy.
Shelter Operator, CFOC-Doors of Compassion, then introduced Kim Bartlett, who will be the Manager of Operations for the shelter. Kim brings years of experience in the sector and experience with Doors of Compassion’s model. She is relocating from the Durham-Ajax region to manage the new shelter in Kingston.
City Staff then presented a construction update on the projected occupancy of the site, appliance and furniture installation, as well as the phased opening planned for February. The committee was informed that due to the weather preventing some exterior work, occupancy experienced delays. The shelter unit has also been assigned the new civic address of 928 Sydenham Road, with the original house remaining as 924 Sydenham Road.
The remainder of the meeting was dedicated to discussion about the site itself, shelter operations and next steps.
Discussions Summary
Is the site on a septic system?
City staff confirmed that the house and shelter (924 and 928 Sydenham Road) have been hooked up to the municipal sewer system.
Confirming the property was not designated as a heritage site?
City staff confirmed that the property does not have heritage status. There were recommendations to preserve trees and hedges, which were fulfilled.
What was the property zoned?
The site is zoned arterial commercial.
Where is the money coming from for this project (Property purchase, Renovations, Trailers, etc.)?
City staff explained that Kingston is the local housing and homelessness service manager, which assigns the municipality responsibility for the entire housing continuum. Funding for housing and homelessness projects comes from a variety of sources, including the federal Housing Accelerator Fund and provincial Homelessness Prevention Fund. In the 2026 budget, City Council approved 10 million for affordable, supportive, transitional housing, which will go towards rent, renovations and affordable housing. The 928 CFOC Doors of Compassion Shelter is funded through a combination of the City and Province of Ontario.
Can the community be provided with a breakdown of the funding structure?
The Housing and Homelessness Advisory Committee report from Nov. 20, 2025, includes the 2025 Housing & Homelessness budget. This budget indicates the funding source and amount for funding across the City’s Housing & Homelessness Services. The specific funding for homelessness shelters, which includes the 928 CFOC Doors of Compassion and other existing shelters, is funded by $1,482,562 municipal funds (including Frontenac County Recovery) and $3,408,416 provincial Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funds.
Could we post a video tour of the shelter?
A tour for media and community members took place on Feb. 12. We will be sharing a virtual video tour on the project page in the coming weeks.
Where is the Shelter’s designated smoking area?
The smoking area will be located at the back of the property. This area will not be visible from the road.
Could parking signage be added to ensure safety?
City staff have taken feedback on road parking and will examine the possibility of signage as well as the condition of the nearby parking lot.
Who will be working at the shelter, and what training / qualifications will they have?
Doors of Compassion shared that recruitment has gone very well. The majority of individuals have already been working in shelters or with agencies. Some staff also bring valuable lived experiences.
Training will be done in person, including at least 7-9 days of orientation and intensive training. All staff will have training in the following:
- Deescalation
- Site Clean Up
- Skills development
- Crisis Prevention Training
- First aid
- Food Handlers
- Vulnerable Sectors Checks
How many staff will be hired?
The shelter will have three shifts per day. Two staff plus one patron relations staff (total of three). There will be a total of twenty-one staff. There will be weekday staff (Monday-Friday) and weekend staff (Saturday-Sunday). The shelter will operate 24/7, seven days a week.
How will the shelter open?
Doors of Compassion is working on a phased opening that will bring individuals into the shelter gradually. Five people will move in at a time, as they are identified as a good fit for the shelter. This approach allows people to become acclimatized. Doors of Compassion also reiterated that patrons have to be referred to 928 CFOC Doors of Compassion by phone or email, which minimizes loitering.
How are the individuals selected for the shelter? Are there any exclusions? What is the selection process like, and how far along the continuum will the accepted patrons be?
Doors of Compassion explained that this is a low-barrier shelter. Patrons must be 18+.
The location may not be suited for individuals who would prefer to remain downtown. This shelter is not a safe consumption site nor a harm reduction site. Doors of Compassion will develop partnerships with other agencies that can transport people to those services. Patrons are not screened for convictions; however, staff emphasized that it is the people who are not stabilized and chronically on the streets who typically pose a risk to community. 928 CFOC Doors of Compassion offers a stable shelter where patrons can stay 24/7.
City Staff and Doors of Compassion also clarified that individuals with convictions are monitored by the Police. Regarding concerns about children’s safety, Kingston Police constantly monitor any individuals who pose a risk.
Has Doors of Compassion connected with other local organizations?
Yes, Doors of Compassion has connected with KFL&A AMHS, Lionhearts and other local organizations. They continue to build connections as they reach out to other community partners.
Describe an average day from a patron’s perspective:
When first arriving at the shelter, Doors of Compassion staff give patrons seven days to get to know staff and to get comfortable in the space. One of the conditions for patrons is that they are continuously working towards goals. Goals do not have to be housing-related.
Patrons will have daily in-house programming to help prepare for housing, which includes life skills development, cleaning responsibilities, serving food, laundry, housing supports, financial aid and talking sessions. Doors of Compassion also host Karaoke nights and movie nights for patrons.
Patrons will be served three meals a day. Birthdays will be celebrated once a month for everyone that month. They also celebrate the holiday season and collaborate with the community to gift handwritten cards, baskets, or gift cards to patrons.
Describe an average day from the shelter staff's perspective:
Doors of Compassion explained that their staff perform many roles and responsibilities, with everyone being there for a reason. First and foremost, staff build a repertoire with patrons by learning their goals and supporting them.
Staff maintain standards inside and outside of the shelter. They provide first aid where necessary, and they help patrons meet their daily needs.
Does Doors of Compassion feel comfortable with the space and size of the shelter?
Doors of Compassion is comfortable with the building and very excited for spring when they are able to use the outdoor space. They plan to partner with Tipi Moza to offer programming in the fenced outdoor area. This outdoor space will include flower beds and gardens.
While Doors of Compassion cannot promise there will be no incidents in the area, they bring experience responding to community and resolving issues. At a Doors of Compassion shelter in Whitby, the shelter is directly adjacent to houses and they have been successful at responding to community concerns. 928 Sydenham Road offers more space and opportunities to provide privacy and successful integration.
Will there be a need for community volunteers?
Doors of Compassion has a process for welcoming community volunteers. Volunteers must have a Vulnerable Sectors Check. Doors of Compassion also hosts students and interns. They will also be organizing community programming. Often, former patrons come back as volunteers and staff for Doors of Compassion. Staff also have involvement in the design of programming.
What should the community do if they notice something involving patrons?
Doors of Compassion shared that the community should contact Doors of Compassion’s community line if they have something to report. Doors of Compassion is committed to being approachable, active, and responsible.
Corrective actions will be taken with the goal of helping people stay sheltered. Doors of Compassion’s Executive Director and Senior Manager will be in Kingston regularly.
Will the back entrance with parking be closed for security?
The back entrance will be reserved for staff. All patrons will be entering and exiting through the front (through the laneway of the house at 924 Sydenham Road). Patrons have a curfew of 10 p.m. There will be a Community Care team that patrols the shelter site and security cameras to see where people are going. Doors of Compassion will be monitoring the back of the shelter and responding as needed.
Will there be space for vehicles to turn around in the parking lot?
The parking lot has ample room for staff and service vehicles. City staff committed to taking back this comment to ensure that the parking lot is configured to allow waste services to turn around.
Will there be communication with the proximate school?
Doors of Compassion is looking to engage with the nearby school (Destiny Christian Academy), as well as the surrounding community and the greater Kingston community.
Committee members noted that Kingston Police were going to assess the school’s yard. The committee also noted that most schools and parks are not completely fenced.
A CLC member shared that they have shared information with the school and encouraged Doors of Compassion to reach out so they can help address any concerns and plan future communications.
Can there be more public education to remove fear?
At the Feb. 3, 2026 City Council meeting, Council passed a motion to review how to improve the process for housing and homelessness projects. Staff are actively looking at how to best deliver information to the community and will report back to Council in July 2026.
Doors of Compassion staff also reminded the committee that many issues already exist, and it is important that existing issues are not associated with the opening of the shelter. The committee agreed that there are currently littered vapes along Sydenham Road. There are people experiencing housing insecurity and sleeping rough in the area, some of whom may access the shelter while others may not.
Doors of Compassion plans to introduce its programming, where they host breakfast with the police and patrons at the shelter. This initiative has been successful at their other shelter locations by creating a neutral space for both sides and changing perceptions. Along with partnerships with community organizations and police, Doors of Compassion is also working closely on communications with the City of Kingston.
The committee also reiterated the commitment to a six-month review after opening.
Updates & Next Steps
Since the CLC meeting, Doors of Compassion followed through with organizing an online public information session and providing opportunities for community to sign up for shelter site tours. The recording of the public information session is now posted to Door’s of Compassion's YouTube Channel and on the Get Involved Kingston page. The video tour of the shelter will also be shared on Get Involved Kingston and emailed to subscribers once completed.
The shelter is anticipated to open in February. Doors of Compassion and City staff will collaborate on communication and coordination for the phased opening.
