Homelessness Services

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Alert - Homelessness

Home Base Housing's Street Outreach Team regularly checks on known individuals experiencing homelessness. If you are experiencing homelessness, or are concerned about a person in need of help, please call 613-542-6672 ext. 130 or contact streetoutreachteam@kingstonhomebase.ca and the Street Outreach Team will be alerted. 
If you or someone you know is in distress, please call the Addiction and Mental Health - KFLA 24/7 Crisis Line: 613-544-4229 or 1-866-616-6005. If it is an emergency, please call 911.

Content - Community Services - Housing - Homeless

The City is the Service Manager, responsible for administering Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) funding in Kingston and the County of Frontenac. It partners with community agencies to prevent homelessness and house people who are experiencing homelessness.

Download a list of shelters and drop-in services in Kingston.

Emergency Shelters

If you are homeless and need a place to stay, contact one of the emergency shelters below to find placement. If possible, please call ahead to make sure there is space.

  • 1. In From the Cold Emergency Shelter
    • 540 Montreal St. Open 24/7. Adult coed shelter.
    • Phone: 613-542-6672 ext. 2
  • 2. Kingston Youth Shelter
    • 365 Nelson St. Open 24/7, shelter for youth aged 16-24. Drop-in services available.
    • Phone: 613-549-4236
  • 3. Lily's Place
    • 333 Kings court Ave. Open 24/7. Shelter for families with children.
    • Phone: 613-542-6672 ext. 3
  • 4. Adelaide St. Centre
    • 38 Cowdy St. Overnight adult coed shelter and daytime drop-in.
    • Phone: 613-483-8580
  • 5. Concession St. Centre
    • 218 Concession St. Overnight adult coed shelter, open 9 p.m. – 8:45 a.m.
    • Street Mission drop-in from 8-11 p.m.
    • Phone: 613-542-6672 ext. 310.

Drop-In Services

  • 6. St. Mary’s Drop-In Centre* 
    • 260 Brock St. Monday to Friday drop-in for coed adults, 1 - 4 p.m.
    • Overnight shelter services for men, open 9 p.m. – 8 a.m. beginning Dec. 4. 
    • Phone: 613-546-5521  
  • 7. Integrated Care Hub
    • 661 Montreal St. Open 24/7. Drop-in services and support including harm reduction supplies, meals, referral supports, adult coed overnight shelter.
    • Phone: 613-329-6417
  • 8. Salvation Army Drop-In
    • 342 Patrick St. Daytime services from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday. Closed noon – 1 p.m. Services for adults and youth.
    • Phone: 613-548-4411
  • 9. One Roof Youth Drop-In Daytime Services
    • 620 Princess St. A community hub where youth-serving agencies provide wraparound services for youth ages 16-24. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday
    • Phone: 613-542-6672

Specialized Services

  • Dawn House
    • Specialized transitional housing for women. 805 Ridley St. Phone to check availability. 
    • Phone: 613-545-9640
  • Kingston Interval House*
    • 24/7 Crisis Line, emergency shelter and support services for women and children leaving abusive situations. 
    • Phone: 613-546-1777


 

* This is not a City-funded shelter

This information has been updated as of  Nov. 23, 2023.

All locations have staff who can coordinate referrals to a variety of supports, including housing services and more.

Home Base Housing's Street Outreach Team regularly checks on known individuals experiencing homelessness. If you are experiencing homelessness or are concerned about a person in need of help, please call 613-542-6672 ext. 130.

If you or someone you know is in distress, please call the Addiction and Mental Health - KFLA 24/7 Crisis Line: 613-544-4229 or 1-866-616-6005. If it is an emergency, please call 911.

Sheltering in Public Spaces/Encampments

The City Encampment Protocol/Procedure guides staff and partners in providing outreach services to homeless individuals sheltering outside in public spaces by providing individuals with access to alternative solutions prior to the enforcement of City by-laws. 

The intent is for the City and its partners to assist people sheltering in public spaces to access safer and healthier alternatives to living outside, including housing, support services and shelter. The protocol also provides a balance between the provision of support to vulnerable populations sheltering in public spaces with the City’s desire to maintain intended access and use of public spaces. 

The objective of this protocol is to establish a clear process for City departments and partners that focuses on a proactive and supportive approach to help vulnerable individuals sheltering in public spaces relocate to alternative service options prior to any enforcement activities related to public spaces (e.g., such as the removal of unauthorized structures, personal goods and debris). It is always the objective of City staff and its partners to assist individuals in voluntarily vacating public spaces and securing improved alternatives to sleeping outside, making enforcement unnecessary. In order to be successful and truly support individuals in need, assessments must be performed on a case-by-case basis, as the needs of individuals sheltering in public spaces will vary greatly. 

Court Decision about daytime sheltering 

Following a court decision in late 2023, City staff will be applying the Parks Use By-Law (#2009-76) in all municipally owned parks. Further, staff have been implementing procedures for dismantling permanent and/or semi-permanent structures erected in City parks, enforcing fire bans in City parks and establishing other procedures intended to protect the security of the City’s parks and infrastructure, address life safety concerns and promote the safe use of City parks. 

Enforcement of daytime sheltering prohibition 

The City of Kingston, with support from community partners, will begin applying the Parks Use By-Law (#2009-76) during the week of April 2. 

To facilitate this change, municipal and agency support staff are proactively communicating the upcoming change to people staying in public parks. City staff, partnering with Street Outreach workers, are on site and actively engaging with people staying in parks, informing individuals of options and receiving feedback on how the enforcement of the by-law will affect them. People who are staying in parks are being offered support services, indoor spaces in which to shelter, transportation and storage options for their belongings. Daytime storage options for shelters and belongings and drop-in services are expanding to support those transitioning out of the area during the day. 

The City of Kingston remains committed to finding safe, supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. 

Feedback or Comments 

If you have any comments or feedback about the daytime sheltering prohibition and related Encampment Protocol Procedures, please email ContactUs@CityofKingston.ca or call 613-546-4291 and say “Housing.” 

Encampment Protocol Procedures

These procedures will be executed when dealing with one or a few tents/structures that have appeared in public spaces that is not a designated camping location and on private properties. 

Municipal Land

1. Initial identification and communication will occur with Street Outreach in collaboration with City By-Law. Street Outreach and By-Law staff: 

• visit the site, 

• determine the situation,  

• complete a high-level assessment of health and safety on site,  

• complete a high-level assessment of needs and provide information on services available, 

• Inform Housing & Social Services Department of the situation and individuals’ needs assessment.  

2. By-Law staff will issue a 2-hour notice of trespass. Serious health, safety, or criminal activity circumstances may warrant lesser time or immediate removal. This 2-hour timeframe could also change based on the capacity and availability of other services. Street Outreach and Housing & Social Services staff continue to provide ongoing supports and work with individuals to provide alternative service options, including but not limited to: shelter, Integrated Care Hub, motel/hotel, apartment, medical services, storage and transportation. All interactions and assessments are documented. 

 3. By-Law follows up at site to enforce order of trespass once alternative service options have been provided to individuals. Street Outreach staff will be supporting and available to assist individuals with alternatives to camping where relocation is necessary through enforcement. Additional enforcement, such as police services, may be required depending on the situation.  

4. Once public spaces have been vacated, By-Law and Public Works will determine the cleanup requirements in order to ensure that the space can be safely accessed and utilized by the public.  

5. When Kingston Police receive an encampment complaint when By-Law officers are not available to respond, Kingston Police will contact Street Outreach and prioritize the encampment complaint, dispatch officers (Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team where possible) to investigate, submit appropriate duty reports and share the information with City By-Law.  

Private Land

 1. Private landowners will contact Kingston Police who will assess the situation and offer the support of Street Outreach to approach individuals that are camping on private properties. This would allow Street Outreach to make the initial communication as well as offer alternative services and supports. Street Outreach would inform Housing & Social Services staff of situation. Street Outreach can only access a private property upon the landowner’s consent. If the owner refuses to provide Street Outreach with initial access, Kingston Police would then be required to attend to the property as a first point of contact to manage the relocation from the private property. Where possible, Kingston Police will dispatch the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team and invite Street Outreach to be present for support. 

 2. Should the efforts of Street Outreach and Housing & Social Services staff not be successful to have individuals relocate to alternative services, the landowner will be advised that Kingston Police will respond to address the issue of trespass on a private property. 

 3. Property clean-up will be the responsibility of the private landowner. The City may provide support to not-for-profit property owners. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average occupancy of shelters in Kingston?

  • This fluctuates nightly and is dependent on the shelter, client demographic and time of year. On average, most shelters are at between 80-100% occupancy nightly. 

Why do people get turned away from shelters?

  • Diversion – Shelter staff in the City of Kingston practice a 9-step diversion approach to help clients identify safe alternatives to shelter. This can include mediating with landlords or roommates to remain in their current housing, staying with friends or family, renting a motel room, etc.
  • Safety – some clients are on a service restriction for behaviour that poses a serious risk to staff or other clients. Often these clients are permitted to access day services to connect with staff and resources.
  • Intoxication – if a client is intoxicated to the point that they are a risk to themselves or others, they are not appropriate for the shelter.
  • Medical reasons – shelters are not staffed with healthcare professionals or personal support workers. Clients must be able to meet their needs independently (transfers, bathing, toileting, etc.).
  • Refusal to engage – clients must agree to engage in the housing search process and work with case management. The shelter is a temporary option for emergency shelter; it is not housing.

What does diversion mean?

  • The goal of diversion is to ensure that clients have exhausted all of the existing resources before they enter a shelter.
  • When clients first try to access shelter, staff will go through a 9-step diversion process to determine whether the client has another option that is safe and appropriate.
  • Staff problem-solve with the client to explore all options – staying with friends/family, motel, is it safe to return to their housing, are they allowed to, etc.  Staff can help mediate with landlord.
  • Staff connect client to appropriate resources – i.e. legal clinic.
  • If there is truly no other suitable option, the client will be admitted to shelter. Staff will have a conversation around the expectations that the client will be engaged in searching for housing.

What do you mean by Housing First and Rapid Re-housing?

  • Housing First is a model of service delivery that states there are no pre-requisites for housing. Under the Housing First model, clients do not need to maintain sobriety or engage in treatment programs prior to receiving housing. Securing housing that is safe, affordable and appropriate is the primary goal and doing so as quickly as possible. Once housed, clients work with intensive case management supports to help connect clients with other supports that will help them maintain housing and avoid returning to homelessness.
  • Rapid Re-housing and Housing First refer to client acuity (need). Acuity is determined by a SPDAT (Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool) assessment completed with the client and helps determine what level of service is required. Rapid Re-housing is a shorter term support – typically up to six months. Housing First is longer term, often one year or longer, and sometimes indefinite. The housing teams in Kingston are referred to as "Housing First," but serve both client populations.

How does the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan reduce the need for shelters?

  • Prevention/Diversion programs intervene when people are at risk of becoming homeless – offering assistance mediating with landlords, access to funds to pay utilities or rent arrears, hoarding assistance – all aimed at preventing eviction and avoiding coming to shelter.
  • Clients are connected to Housing First/Rapid Re-housing case managers. This is an intensive support. Case managers meet with clients regularly to help them find/maintain housing, or re-house them if housing is not successful. This results in shorter shelter stays.
  • Rent assistance helps with affordability so clients with limited income have better access to appropriate housing.

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