Emergency Housing Responses

Strengthening the Housing Continuum

The City’s investment in the new shelter and additional supportive housing properties creates more opportunities for progression along the housing continuum. The housing continuum describes the range of housing options available to people from emergency shelter and transitional housing through supportive housing and ultimately independent, market or subsidized housing. The City of Kingston’s diverse homelessness services meet people where they are along this continuum.

Significant progress has been made in our local emergency housing responses, with five (5) new services opening over a six months period from Q4 of 2025 to Q1 of 2026. The City is fortunate to have strong community parters and agencies to support successful housing programs and projects. To learn more about recent and upcoming projects, see the table and public updates below.

Kingston’s recent progress in Emergency Housing Responses


Homelessness in Kingston

Kingston, like cities across the country, remains in a housing and affordability crises that is compounded by insufficient addiction and mental health supports. These realities continue to put strain on the emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing systems. Chronically homeless is defined by being homeless or underhoused for 6 of the last 12 months or for 18 months over the last 3 years. There are (as of February 2026) 390 persons considered chronically homeless in Kingston. Encampments are one of the most visible and urgent signs of the growing homelessness crisis. There are 100+ individuals who frequently reside in encampments across the city who are connected to Street Outreach support services. The transition of individuals from encampment into emergency shelter allows for individuals to receive essential services, such as case management and systems navigation supports, mental health resources and a general stabilization in their lives while they transition towards permanent housing.

Projects in development and/or with active community engagement

AddressOperatorsServicesStatus
924 Sydenham RoadDoors of Compassion30-33 Emergency co-ed shelter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness. Potential to expand to 45 beds during periods of extreme weather. Case Management and access to housing resources. Referral to mental health services and access to food and showers. Space for couples pets, and overnight storage for personal belongings. Opened February 2026.
Single detached home - Lakeside District (167 Braemar Rd.)Ryandale Transitional HousingResidents will have access to a comprehensive range of wraparound supports, including: mental health services, addiction recovery programs, primary health care, life skills training, case management, social and recreational activities, housekeeping and property management, trauma-informed care, and connections to broader services such as employment supports, legal aid, and cultural programming. Each single detached home will accommodate up to 8 individuals with low to medium acuity.
 Open, welcoming residents
Single detached home - Collins-Bayridge District (1056 Palmerston Cres.)Potential operator is Ryandale Transitional Housing
Residents will have access to a comprehensive range of wraparound supports, including: mental health services, addiction recovery programs, primary health care, life skills training, case management, social and recreational activities, housekeeping and property management, trauma-informed care, and connections to broader services such as employment supports, legal aid, and cultural programming. Each single detached home will accommodate up to 8 individuals with low to medium acuity.
 Open, welcoming residents
Single detached home - Pittsburgh District (407 Sheila Court)Tipi Moza (Ironhomes)
Residents will have access to a comprehensive range of wraparound supports, including: mental health services, addiction recovery programs, primary health care, life skills training, case management, social and recreational activities, housekeeping and property management, trauma-informed care, and connections to broader services such as employment supports, legal aid, and cultural programming. Each single detached home will accommodate up to 8 individuals with low to medium acuity.
 Open, welcoming residents
NADawn House20 emergency shelter beds for women experiencing homelessness. Case Management and access to housing resources. Referral to mental health services and access to food and showers. Opened Nov. 2025
315 Queen Mary RoadHome Base Housing33-unit Supportive Transitional Housing program for individuals who identify as ages 55+ who are transitioning from homelessness. Case Management support, life skills training, job skill support, medical support Opening Soon
484 Albert StreetHome Base Housing38-unit supportive/transitional program for youth aged 16-24. On-site counselling support, cultural centre, job skills training, fitness and culinary amenities In development
541 Division StreetHome Base Housing36 Supportive and Affordable Family Housing units Development approvals underway
New Shelter
On hold
30-45 Emergency co-ed shelter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness. Case Management and access to housing resources. Referral to mental health services and access to food and showers. Space for couple’s pets, and overnight storage for personal belongings. The need for this future shelter is being assessed based on bringing online supportive housing and the winddown of Adelaide Street Shelter.
 On hold pending needs reassessment.


Integrating Housing Services into Communities

Members of Council, neighbours, partner agencies and City staff are equally important in helping integrate shelter and transitional/supportive housing services into communities.

The City is committed to providing ongoing updates, receiving questions, and guiding a constructive community-led engagement process to those neighbourhoods that will include emergency housing solutions, including those with new shelters and new transitional/supportive housing projects. The intent is to ensure clear and consistent communication with the community and raise awareness of future engagement opportunities designed to hear concerns and to collaborate on how sites can be successfully integrated into their neighbourhoods.

Where appropriate, new shelter and transitional/supportive housing projects will host near neighbour community meetings and move toward the creation of Community Liaison Committees (CLC). CLCs are a means of connecting near neighbours, business owners, site operators and City support teams to share information, address questions, discuss challenges and collaborate on integrating housing services into neighbourhoods and addressing community concerns.

Strengthening the Housing Continuum

The City’s investment in the new shelter and additional supportive housing properties creates more opportunities for progression along the housing continuum. The housing continuum describes the range of housing options available to people from emergency shelter and transitional housing through supportive housing and ultimately independent, market or subsidized housing. The City of Kingston’s diverse homelessness services meet people where they are along this continuum.

Significant progress has been made in our local emergency housing responses, with five (5) new services opening over a six months period from Q4 of 2025 to Q1 of 2026. The City is fortunate to have strong community parters and agencies to support successful housing programs and projects. To learn more about recent and upcoming projects, see the table and public updates below.

Kingston’s recent progress in Emergency Housing Responses


Homelessness in Kingston

Kingston, like cities across the country, remains in a housing and affordability crises that is compounded by insufficient addiction and mental health supports. These realities continue to put strain on the emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing systems. Chronically homeless is defined by being homeless or underhoused for 6 of the last 12 months or for 18 months over the last 3 years. There are (as of February 2026) 390 persons considered chronically homeless in Kingston. Encampments are one of the most visible and urgent signs of the growing homelessness crisis. There are 100+ individuals who frequently reside in encampments across the city who are connected to Street Outreach support services. The transition of individuals from encampment into emergency shelter allows for individuals to receive essential services, such as case management and systems navigation supports, mental health resources and a general stabilization in their lives while they transition towards permanent housing.

Projects in development and/or with active community engagement

AddressOperatorsServicesStatus
924 Sydenham RoadDoors of Compassion30-33 Emergency co-ed shelter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness. Potential to expand to 45 beds during periods of extreme weather. Case Management and access to housing resources. Referral to mental health services and access to food and showers. Space for couples pets, and overnight storage for personal belongings. Opened February 2026.
Single detached home - Lakeside District (167 Braemar Rd.)Ryandale Transitional HousingResidents will have access to a comprehensive range of wraparound supports, including: mental health services, addiction recovery programs, primary health care, life skills training, case management, social and recreational activities, housekeeping and property management, trauma-informed care, and connections to broader services such as employment supports, legal aid, and cultural programming. Each single detached home will accommodate up to 8 individuals with low to medium acuity.
 Open, welcoming residents
Single detached home - Collins-Bayridge District (1056 Palmerston Cres.)Potential operator is Ryandale Transitional Housing
Residents will have access to a comprehensive range of wraparound supports, including: mental health services, addiction recovery programs, primary health care, life skills training, case management, social and recreational activities, housekeeping and property management, trauma-informed care, and connections to broader services such as employment supports, legal aid, and cultural programming. Each single detached home will accommodate up to 8 individuals with low to medium acuity.
 Open, welcoming residents
Single detached home - Pittsburgh District (407 Sheila Court)Tipi Moza (Ironhomes)
Residents will have access to a comprehensive range of wraparound supports, including: mental health services, addiction recovery programs, primary health care, life skills training, case management, social and recreational activities, housekeeping and property management, trauma-informed care, and connections to broader services such as employment supports, legal aid, and cultural programming. Each single detached home will accommodate up to 8 individuals with low to medium acuity.
 Open, welcoming residents
NADawn House20 emergency shelter beds for women experiencing homelessness. Case Management and access to housing resources. Referral to mental health services and access to food and showers. Opened Nov. 2025
315 Queen Mary RoadHome Base Housing33-unit Supportive Transitional Housing program for individuals who identify as ages 55+ who are transitioning from homelessness. Case Management support, life skills training, job skill support, medical support Opening Soon
484 Albert StreetHome Base Housing38-unit supportive/transitional program for youth aged 16-24. On-site counselling support, cultural centre, job skills training, fitness and culinary amenities In development
541 Division StreetHome Base Housing36 Supportive and Affordable Family Housing units Development approvals underway
New Shelter
On hold
30-45 Emergency co-ed shelter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness. Case Management and access to housing resources. Referral to mental health services and access to food and showers. Space for couple’s pets, and overnight storage for personal belongings. The need for this future shelter is being assessed based on bringing online supportive housing and the winddown of Adelaide Street Shelter.
 On hold pending needs reassessment.


Integrating Housing Services into Communities

Members of Council, neighbours, partner agencies and City staff are equally important in helping integrate shelter and transitional/supportive housing services into communities.

The City is committed to providing ongoing updates, receiving questions, and guiding a constructive community-led engagement process to those neighbourhoods that will include emergency housing solutions, including those with new shelters and new transitional/supportive housing projects. The intent is to ensure clear and consistent communication with the community and raise awareness of future engagement opportunities designed to hear concerns and to collaborate on how sites can be successfully integrated into their neighbourhoods.

Where appropriate, new shelter and transitional/supportive housing projects will host near neighbour community meetings and move toward the creation of Community Liaison Committees (CLC). CLCs are a means of connecting near neighbours, business owners, site operators and City support teams to share information, address questions, discuss challenges and collaborate on integrating housing services into neighbourhoods and addressing community concerns.

  • City Council Approves Property Purchase for Temporary Emergency Shelter Operations

    The City of Kingston is committed to evolving emergency shelter and transitional or supportive housing services to better support people in the community who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. With clear Council direction and support, we are taking steps to provide timely assistance to those in need throughout Kingston.

    As has been previously shared, the City is moving to wind down the temporary shelter services offered at Adelaide Street Shelter and has been advancing work on various properties within the city to relocate these existing shelter services to new locations. Tonight, May 6, 2025, Council approved the purchase of 924 Sydenham Rd. with the plan to develop an emergency shelter on this site and to relocate a portion of the services that are currently offered at Adelaide Street Shelter to this new location.

    This new shelter will have a minimum 30 bed capacity, with room for an additional expansion of 15 beds as needed, and especially in consideration of the annual increased need for shelter beds seen each winter.

    The City of Kingston is committed to evolving emergency shelter and transitional or supportive housing services to better support people in the community who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. With clear Council direction and support, we are taking steps to provide timely assistance to those in need throughout Kingston.

    As has been previously shared, the City is moving to wind down the temporary shelter services offered at Adelaide Street Shelter and has been advancing work on various properties within the city to relocate these existing shelter services to new locations. Tonight, May 6, 2025, Council approved the purchase of 924 Sydenham Rd. with the plan to develop an emergency shelter on this site and to relocate a portion of the services that are currently offered at Adelaide Street Shelter to this new location.

    This new shelter will have a minimum 30 bed capacity, with room for an additional expansion of 15 beds as needed, and especially in consideration of the annual increased need for shelter beds seen each winter.

  • Taking Strategic Action on Emergency Shelter Services

    The City of Kingston is committed to adapting emergency shelter services to better support people in the community who are experiencing homelessness and is taking steps to address homelessness and provide timely assistance to those in need throughout Kingston. By investing $6,280,000 from the 2025 approved capital budget -- including a $280,000 contribution from the Community Benefit Fund -- the City is moving to wind down the temporary shelter services offered at Adelaide Street Shelter later this year and has been advancing work on various properties within the city to relocate existing shelter services to new locations.

    How Delegated Authority Helps Us Address Unique Challenges

    The City’s By-Law Number 2022-154, A By-Law to Establish a Procurement Policy (the Procurement Bylaw) sets out processes for how the City approaches purchasing and signing contracts. Depending on what is being purchased or how complex a contract is, these processes can take months to prepare, issue, review and award.

    On April 1, 2025, Council delegated authority to the Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer or their delegates to proceed directly to the non-standard procurement method identified in the Procurement Bylaw. This delegated authority helps the City open new shelter services as soon as possible by expediting purchases associated with shelter developments such as service contracts with trades, renovation materials, temporary structures, and furniture.

    Staff will report back on contracts awarded as part of the monthly Delegation of Authority information report to Council.

    Future Plans and Property Acquisition

    Acknowledging the pressures associated with larger shelter sites, as well as recognizing people can experience homelessness in all areas of the community, t he City is actively reviewing property options with the understanding that any acquired or leased property will require renovations, additional servicing or infrastructure needs, or temporary structures.

    Property acquisitions themselves must still be approved by Council and are not included in the delegated authority approved by Council on April 1, 2025.

    For all property acquisitions, the City follows Section 239(2)(c) of the Municipal Act, 2001 (the Act) which provides that a meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered is a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. This is the process the City has followed for all its affordable, transitional, and supportive housing and other property acquisitions.

    To learn more about how the City of Kingston is expanding housing options and working to improve service to people who are unhoused or precariously housed, visit our Strategic Priorities.


    The City of Kingston is committed to adapting emergency shelter services to better support people in the community who are experiencing homelessness and is taking steps to address homelessness and provide timely assistance to those in need throughout Kingston. By investing $6,280,000 from the 2025 approved capital budget -- including a $280,000 contribution from the Community Benefit Fund -- the City is moving to wind down the temporary shelter services offered at Adelaide Street Shelter later this year and has been advancing work on various properties within the city to relocate existing shelter services to new locations.

    How Delegated Authority Helps Us Address Unique Challenges

    The City’s By-Law Number 2022-154, A By-Law to Establish a Procurement Policy (the Procurement Bylaw) sets out processes for how the City approaches purchasing and signing contracts. Depending on what is being purchased or how complex a contract is, these processes can take months to prepare, issue, review and award.

    On April 1, 2025, Council delegated authority to the Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer or their delegates to proceed directly to the non-standard procurement method identified in the Procurement Bylaw. This delegated authority helps the City open new shelter services as soon as possible by expediting purchases associated with shelter developments such as service contracts with trades, renovation materials, temporary structures, and furniture.

    Staff will report back on contracts awarded as part of the monthly Delegation of Authority information report to Council.

    Future Plans and Property Acquisition

    Acknowledging the pressures associated with larger shelter sites, as well as recognizing people can experience homelessness in all areas of the community, t he City is actively reviewing property options with the understanding that any acquired or leased property will require renovations, additional servicing or infrastructure needs, or temporary structures.

    Property acquisitions themselves must still be approved by Council and are not included in the delegated authority approved by Council on April 1, 2025.

    For all property acquisitions, the City follows Section 239(2)(c) of the Municipal Act, 2001 (the Act) which provides that a meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered is a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. This is the process the City has followed for all its affordable, transitional, and supportive housing and other property acquisitions.

    To learn more about how the City of Kingston is expanding housing options and working to improve service to people who are unhoused or precariously housed, visit our Strategic Priorities.


Page last updated: 01 Sep 2026, 02:55 PM