FAQs
Offer health care or health services.
Offer consumption treatment services or supervised consumption services.
Offer syringe exchange or drug paraphernalia distributionneedle and syringe programs and the distribution of harm reduction supplies.
Deliver services outside the City of Kingston.
Operate in violation of any applicable law, regulation, permit, or licensing requirement.
Rent, lease, mortgage, or utility costs.
Staff salaries and wages.
Liability insurance premiums.
Capital purchases.
- Outreach and engagement activities that connect individuals to existing health, housing, and social services
- Peer-based support, navigation, and system linkage (non-clinical)
- Community safety check-ins and wellness outreach in public spaces
- Education and awareness activities focused on safer practices, risk reduction, and informed decision-making
- Coordination between community agencies to improve referrals, continuity of care, and service access
- Provision of basic needs supports (e.g., food, water, hygiene items, and other essential necessities) where aligned with outreach and engagement activities
Budgets may include asset purchases up to $2,000 (for example, a laptop) intended for continued program delivery. Consumable items — such as cell phones for distribution or first aid kits — are expected to be expended over the course of the program rather than treated as capital assets.
Vehicle-related costs such as rental, mileage, and gas are eligible; purchasing a vehicle outright is not, as this constitutes a capital asset.
Insurance specific to the pilot program's activities is an eligible expense. This covers only the insured pilot elements — not the organization as a whole, or services outside the funded pilot.
The cost of the compilation statement (required for awards under $30,000) is an eligible budget expense.
Groups may submit requests to amend their budget over the life of the project, including reallocating funds across eligible program areas or requesting funds for a new service area. These requests will not be unreasonably declined, provided they align with the program's intent and the administrative guidelines and funding agreement.
What organizations can receive funding?
Applications are open to registered non-profit organizations, registered charities, and volunteer organizations. For-profit organizations are not eligible.
Organizations already receiving City of Kingston funding through other programs may apply but must disclose all existing City funding in their application and clearly explain how this proposal is a new request not covered by any existing funding agreement.
Can this funding be used to purchase or distribute harm reduction supplies?
This program does not prohibit outreach workers from distributing naloxone or from administering it in an overdose. What the program does not do is fund the purchase of naloxone or other consumption related harm reduction supplies (pipes, syringes etc.).
Naloxone distribution and training are administered through Public Health, and all groups working with vulnerable persons, funded through this pilot or not, are encouraged to access that training and supply. More info on naloxone and how groups can access supplies for distribution can be found here: https://www.kflaph.ca/en/health-topics/naloxone.aspx
What projects are ineligible?
Funded projects must not:
Ineligible Funding Uses
City funding through this program cannot be used for:
What are some examples of eligible community harm reduction activities?
"Community harm reduction" under this program refers to non-clinical activities that reduce harm at the individual and community level by improving access to information, services, supports, and safer environments, rather than by delivering clinical care or treatment directly.
Consistent with Section 1.2 of the program guideline, the program excludes clinical health services and consumption treatment services, and does not fund harm reduction supplies. This reflects a deliberate scope decision to keep this fund focused on non-clinical, community-based work rather than duplicating regulated health services.
A key requirement of eligible activities is that they do not duplicate existing services. Instead, these activities are intended to complement and strengthen current services by focusing on community-led, environmental, and engagement-based approaches that enhance connection to existing supports rather than replacing or replicating them.
A further key component of eligible harm reduction work includes actively connecting individuals to services that provide the clinical care, treatment supports, and essential supplies they may require to stay safe. This includes facilitating warm referrals, supporting navigation of systems, assisting with engagement and follow-through, and strengthening pathways to housing, health, mental health, addiction, and social supports. While the program does not fund the provision of clinical services or harm reduction supplies directly, it does support work that improves access to those services and resources through effective coordination and linkage.
These examples are intended to illustrate the general scope of eligible activities and are not exhaustive. The review panel assesses proposals based on alignment with the program objectives, the extent to which activities remain non-clinical in nature, their contribution to improved community safety and connection to services, and their non-duplication of existing services.
When will successful applicants be contacted?
Notification of results will be shared August 14, 2026
What is the definition of a "new” community group?
"New" refers to groups that have not previously received City funding for homelessness services, and to proposals that fall outside a group's existing, funded core service area, not to the age or incorporation status of the organization itself.
For example, a neighbourhood association that has received Neighbourhood Activation Funding for a community BBQ, could apply to run a pilot around sharps clean-ups and delivering related overdose education in its neighbourhood. By contrast, an organization such as KCHC, which is mandated and funded by the Ministry to provide health services would not be eligible for funding as it is an established and funded health service entity operating in this service area.
Appreciating that groups fall at various points along this “new” and “funded” continuum, groups are requested to describe the services their pilot proposes and to explain how the proposal is new and how the group is new to this work, including how the pilot relates to any existing City or other funding the group currently receives. This will allow the independent review panel to assess eligibility against the intent of the May 5 motion.
What can the funding be used to purchase?
What is the initial lump sum of funding that will be provided to informal/volunteer-based groups?
Informal and volunteer-based groups will receive an upfront lump sum of 25% of their project budget. With subsequent amounts released against reporting and receipts. The use of the upfront funding would still be required to be accounted for in the project reporting and with appropriate receipts/invoices.
Can the funding be used to distribute honoraria?
Groups may distribute honoraria of less than $500 per individual per tax year. Recipients are responsible for disclosing this amount as taxable income; a group issuing an honorarium is not required to issue a tax receipt (e.g., a T4A) provided the total paid to any one individual remains under $500 in the tax year. This means an individual could receive several smaller honoraria as part of the pilot over time, so long as the cumulative total to that person stays below $500 annually. Groups intending to use honoraria must include the anticipated amount and number of payments in their application and proposed budget.
Can the funding be used to purchase equipment?
Assets and equipment purchased for program delivery must be identified in both the program description and the budget. Asset purchases are limited to $2,000 (e.g., a laptop). Where an organization will continue operating beyond the pilot's timeline, assets like a laptop may remain with the organization for continued use. Consumable items are expected to be expended during the program. Any unused assets at the program's conclusion are to be conveyed back to the City for use/distribution by other agencies.
Can the funding be used to print materials and will the City distribute information on behalf of funded programs?
Print materials are an eligible budget expense. The City will share information about funded pilot programs but is not able to commit to producing print materials on behalf of funded groups. Any materials a group intends to print and distribute must be shared with the City for review to ensure alignment to funding guidelines prior to distribution.
Can the funding be used for professional service contracts?
Professional service contracts may be eligible when they are directly related to a specific project activity or deliverable and are not being used to replace ongoing staff positions, wages, or operational costs. Applicants should clearly explain the purpose of the contracted service and how it supports the proposed pilot project.
What happens if similar applications are submitted by multiple groups, or if the proposed service exists already?
The review panel will consider whether a proposal duplicates existing services or other proposed pilots. Where similar applications are received from multiple groups, applicants may be encouraged to coordinate to increase reach and impact. Where a service already exists, for example, through Street Outreach, the panel will be asked to consider how the proposal differs from what's currently offered, whether it overlaps with clinical services delivered by licensed medical or health professionals, and how it may introduce cost savings.
Is there a Funding Agreement template available?
The template for funding agreements is currently in development, and will be finalized the week of July 6. Once complete the template will be shared on the Get Involved Page.
How will cost-effectiveness be assessed?
The review panel will assess cost-effectiveness based on the criteria outlined in the scoring matrix, including whether the proposed project demonstrates good value relative to the anticipated outcomes and objectives of the pilot. Applicants should describe how their project will achieve measurable outcomes, create efficiencies, leverage partnerships, and maximize the impact of the funding.
Can statistics be released to provide data relevant to anticipated outcomes?
The City is unable to provide customized data sets or statistics to support individual applications. Applicants are encouraged to use publicly available information, their own organizational data, research, and other credible evidence to support the anticipated outcomes of their proposal. Where appropriate, applicants may wish to identify the specific area of interest relevant to their project and seek publicly available information or data from organizations with expertise in that area. Open Data Kingston is one example of publicly available information.
Does sustainability require applicants to have secure long-term funding?
Sustainability does not require applicants to have long-term funding already secured. The review panel will consider whether applicants have presented a reasonable and credible plan for sustaining successful project elements beyond the pilot period, which may include future grant opportunities, fundraising initiatives, partnerships, or integration into existing organizational resources.
Can an applicant submit multiple applications for funding?
Eligible organizations may submit more than one application, provided each application represents a distinct pilot project and is complete on its own. Each application will be evaluated independently against the published evaluation criteria.
Submitting multiple applications does not guarantee that more than one project will receive funding. Funding decisions will be based on the strength of each application, overall program objectives, available funding, and the recommendations of the review panel.
Does reliance on volunteers negatively impact the assessment of organization capacity?
Volunteer organizations are encouraged to apply where they can demonstrate they have the organizational capacity to successfully deliver the proposed project. Reliance on volunteers is not viewed as either a strength or a weakness on its own.
The review panel will assess the overall feasibility of the proposal, including the applicant's capacity to successfully deliver the project. Applicants should describe how volunteers will be supported to ensure effective project delivery.
As noted in the Application Guide, applicants are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable legislation and legal obligations, including those related to employment standards, occupational health and safety, and the appropriate use and supervision of volunteers.