FAQs

Supportive housing provides safe, stable housing to persons who might otherwise face homelessness and to those who have been consistent, stable shelter users. Supportive housing combines housing stability with 24/7 wraparound programming and life skill support. It is based on the Housing First model, which prioritizes housing as a foundation for improving health, well-being, and independence. Supportive housing differs from emergency shelters in that it provides a physical environment that is home-like, with on-site support. 

Residents will have access to a comprehensive range of wraparound supports, including but not limited to: life skills training, case management, social and recreational activities, housekeeping and property management, trauma-informed care, health, mental health and recovery services where appropriate and connections to broader services such as employment supports, legal aid, and cultural programming.

A near neighbour meeting will be hosted by Ryandale on Jan. 28, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Reddendale Hall in Centre 70 (100 Days Road). Questions can also be asked here on the Get Involved Kingston Page 

Get Involved Kingston is a central location with information about each of the housing solutions. Answers to many frequently asked questions can be found here. Questions and feedback are always welcome by emailing GetInvolvedKingston@CityofKingston.ca or by leaving a question or comment on the project pages. Feedback is collected throughout each project, aggregated and themed, and reported back to the community on Get Involved Kingston.  

Yes, the property at 167 Braemer Road has been purchased by the City of Kingston as a new supportive housing site. Ryandale Transitional Housing, in partnership with the City of Kingston, has been identified as the intended operator. Currently there are over 235 supportive housing units across Kingston operating out of 28 sites. The City is moving forward at present with three new properties, one of which is located on Braemer Road.

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 services does not further concentrate and thereby stigmatize vulnerable populations. Properties acquired by the City for a supportive housing 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. Once a property is found that meets these 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.   Please see following link to relevant Council report providing further details on the direction to make these purchases.  Acquisition of Supportive Housing Properties

As shared at Council meeting on Sept. 2, 2025 through Report Number 25-218  addresses and operators will be shared as property transactions close.  This is to ensure and respect the confidentiality of the property owners. 167 Braemer Road closed on Dec. 5, 2025, allowing the City to share both the address and potential operator publicly.

To secure operators for each site, the City issued a Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ) for those operators that have demonstrated experience and expertise in operating supportive housing properties. Once operators are in place, they will as has now been done by Ryandale for the property on 167 Braemer Road, reach out to near neighbours to share program info, build relationships, address program questions, correct misinformation/misunderstanding of services and ensure that new residents become valued members of the community.  The flyer that was sent out was a first step and there will be an information session on January 28, 2026, to answer questions that neighbours may have about supportive housing, the operator and the future residents.  

Only a small number of people can be accommodated at supportive housing properties. That is why there are over 28 supportive housing sites already in operation across our community. The small number of residents helps to ensure adequate support levels and foster community integration. The modest renovations to be undertaken at 167 Braemer Road are to update the property and ensure that the bedrooms and common kitchen and living spaces are up to code. A building permit for this work is required. Planning approvals are not required and no servicing changes are needed to accommodate the number of people who will live at this site. Most residents of supportive housing use public transportation. Residents do not tend to own personal vehicles and parking on the site is sufficient to meet the resident and staff needs. Vans are often used to assist residents in attending offsite programs, attending medical appointments, getting to work, etc.

The property at 167 Braemer Road. was purchased by the City to serve as a new supportive housing site. It will join the 28 other supportive housing sites in operation across our community. Council approved this direction and City staff and Ryandale as the intended operator are preparing the site for new residents to move in. There will be an information session on Jan. 28, 2026, to connect more directly with neighbours., The information session will provide an opportunity to answer questions about the site, the operation of supportive housing, who the residents will be, and how concerns can be mitigated ahead of the site opening. It will also provide information about how questions and concerns will continue to be addressed after the site opens. 

Supportive housing is small scale in size and site impact. Supportive housing sites can accommodate 7 to 8 people. Each resident has their own bedroom and shares communal kitchen and living spaces. Staff space is also included at the sites. 

The next steps for this project are property renovations and community engagement. Renovations will begin in December 2025. Invitations to a near-neighbour meeting run by Ryandale Transitional Housing have been delivered to houses within a 150-metre radius of 167 Braemer Road. and shared on the Get Involved Kingston page. This community outreach by the operator will allow those living closest to the property to connect in person, ask questions, learn about residents and understand the support and programming provided at the site. The hope is that residents will move in by the end of March 2026. Near neighbours are an important part of building successful connections with the community and the feedback and suggestions received from near neighbours will help to shape how the residents engage, how challenges are addressed and how relationships can be built.  

Members of Council, neighbours, partner agencies and City staff are equally important in helping integrate supportive housing services into communities. The City and Ryandale are committed to providing ongoing updates, receiving questions, and guiding a constructive community-led engagement process to those neighbourhoods that will include 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. Supportive housing operators alongside City staff will host near neighbour community meetings and if interest allows, 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 addressing community concerns.  

Ryandale has successfully operated for 40 years. Their programs have provided essential services to members of the community and supported them in their individual goals and to achieve independent living. It is important to note that since the opening of Fieldstone Cres. (a recent Ryandale supportive housing site in Pittsburgh District), there have been no issues identified by the local community property owners. The supportive housing site on Fieldstone Crescent is now an integral part of their near neighbour community.

At supportive housing sites, rule-breaking is usually handled in a supportive, step-by-step way rather than through immediate penalty unless the severity of the action warrants it, with the goal of keeping people housed and safe. Staff typically start by talking with the resident to understand what happened and offer services or support. If problems continue, responses may escalate gradually through warnings, behavior agreements, or restrictions. Eviction is a last resort, generally used when safety is at risk and other interventions have failed. Ryandale staff will be at the Jan. 28 community meeting to share more about its specific program agreements, resident expectations and how violations are dealt with.  

The supportive housing program will have staff on site to provide support to residents. Staff will be available at all times to respond to needs, provide guidance, and support individuals as they work toward greater independence and housing stability. The operator is responsible for the security of the site as they are with all of the sites they successfully operate.  While the operator will be available to answer any questions about safety and security at the meeting taking place on Jan. 28, 2026, they will be engaging with the community well before that date.  In addition, ongoing engagement by the operator both before and after the site opens will continue to provide opportunities for the community to share any issues or concerns and for the Ryandale staff and the future residents to work to address them. It is important to note that since the opening of other Ryandale operated supportive housing, there have been no issues identified by the community or by local property owners and in fact they are now an integral part of their near neighbour community. 

The supportive housing program will have staff available at all times to respond to needs, provide guidance, and support individuals as they work toward greater independence and housing stability. These staff are fully trained and will work with an individual to develop a plan tailored to support their needs as they move towards independent living. An individual plan may include things like counselling, life skills training, budgeting support, housing searches and other items identified in development of the plan.   

Ryandale uses a 4-Phase Program Approach 

Phase 1: 

• New residents are welcomed into a supportive environment. During this phase, they familiarize themselves with the house rules, staff, and fellow residents. The goal is to establish stability and a sense of safety before deeper personal work begins. Residents engage in self-assessment exercises to understand their strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and limitations. A key component of this phase is connecting residents with appropriate community supports, including healthcare, mental health services, employment programs, and addiction recovery resources.  

Phase 2 

•  Residents are assigned daily and weekly household chores as part of their stay at Ryandale · If addiction is part of their story, residents are required to attend outside 12-step meetings (AA/NA) or other recovery programs regularly. · Staff assist residents in completing applications to be placed on relevant housing waitlists as early as possible. Staff assist residents with obtaining ID, Health cards and getting connected with outside resources in this phase.  

Phase 3: 

• Residents receive training in life skills such as: Financial literacy and budgeting Cooking and meal planning Conflict resolution and communication Maintaining a sober and healthy lifestyle  

Phase 4: 

• Support is provided for transitioning into independent living, ensuring residents feel prepared to take on responsibilities outside of the program. This phase helps residents begin taking ownership of their journey while developing a support network beyond Ryandale. This structured, holistic approach empowers residents to reintegrate into society with confidence, stability, and the necessary skills for long-term success 

City staff will be working very closely with the operators to support the success of the program.  Through regular meetings with the City and as part of contractual reporting requirements, Ryandale provides details on monthly programming taking place, what if any issues have arisen and how they have been addressed. Ryandale will also report on the ongoing progress of clients including those that have secured permanent housing.   

Ryandale’s mission is to ensure safe accommodation and support access to essential support services for people in KFL&A who are struggling with the economic, social and often emotional challenges of being without permanent housing. Ryandale Transitional Housing aims to bridge the gap between shelter dependency and sustainable, independent living. Beyond the provision of a safe and comfortable place to stay. Ryandale works to build greater social inclusion and a renewed sense of hope in their residents, while focusing on perseverance and a realistic view of the road ahead. Learn more by reading Ryandale’s 2025 Annual Report.(External link)   

The City ensures any vacant property is regularly checked and secure through the vacant building insurance provider protocol. Paladin security is monitoring the property as per this standard protocol.