Overnight shelter for youth aged 16-24.
- 365 Nelson St.
- Phone: 613-549-4236
- Open 24/7
- Drop-in services available
- Services offered: Family mediation, storage, meals, showers
Homelessness Services
Home Base Housing's Street Outreach team monitors homeless individuals. If you're homeless, or know someone in need, call 613-542-6672 ext.130 or email streetoutreach@kingstonhomebase.ca.
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, please reach out to the Addictions and Mental Health - KFLA 24/7 Crisis Line at 613-544-4229 or 1-866-616-6005. In case of an emergency, call 911.
We oversee the funding for homelessness prevention and housing initiatives in Kingston and the County of Frontenac through the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP). We work with local organizations to help prevent homelessness and provide housing for those who are experiencing it.
At all public City buildings, our staff can help connect you to various support services, including housing assistance and more.
Download a list of transit routes to daytime services.
Winter Services Response Plan
The 2024/205 Winter Services Response Plan outlines the services available within the City of Kingston to support people experiencing homelessness during the winter season.
For more information about Warming Centres, visit the Warm Up, Cool Down, and Clean Air Locations page.
Integrated Care Hub (ICH) reopening and services
Currently the ICH is providing limited services in the newly defined Access and Support Centre, formerly known as the Drop-In. A maximum of 10 individuals are allowed inside at one time to support safe access.
Services are available 7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Services offered:
- Connect with essential services
- Access to showers and bathrooms
- Access to computers
- Access to support workers
- Other basic needs
If / When additional services become available at the ICH we will update this information accordingly. For more detailed and up to date information on the services available visit the ICH website.
Emergency shelters
If you find yourself without a place to stay and need shelter, please reach out to one of the emergency shelters listed below for assistance. If possible, please call ahead to check for available space.
Shelter for families with children.
- 333 Kingscourt Ave.
- Phone: 613-542-6672 ext. 3
- Open 24/7
- Capacity: 31 individuals
- Group(s) serviced: Single parents or couples with children
- Services offered: Programming, showers, laundry, meal assistance
In From the Cold Emergency Shelter
- 540 Montreal St.
- Phone: 613-542-6672 ext. 2
- Open 24/7
- Capacity: 24 individuals, in 24 beds
- Group(s) serviced: Adults over 24 years of age
- Services offered: Pet friendly, programming, storage, meals, showers
Please note: 10 additional beds for 10 additional individuals will be available starting Jan. 6, 2025.
Adelaide St. Centre
- 38 Cowdy St.
- Phone: 613-483-8580
- Open 7 days a week, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.
- Capacity: 60 individuals, in 48 beds
- Group(s) serviced: Adults over 18 years of age
- Services offered: Couples welcome, storage, meals
Concession St. Centre
- 218 Concession St.
- Phone: 613-542-6672 ext. 310
- Overnight spaces are open from 9 p.m. - 8:45 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis
- Capacity: 29 individuals, in 25 beds
- Group(s) serviced: Adults over 18 years of age
- Services offered: Pet Friendly, clothing bank, meals, showers
Please note: This shelter will be closing on Jan. 5, 2025.
Single gender shelters - Female
Emergency shelter for individuals who identify as female.
- Phone: 613-929-3440
- Open 24/7
- Capacity: 14 individuals, in 14 beds
- Services offered: Programming, showers, laundry, meal assistance
Veronica’s Veil (St. Mary’s Parish)
Emergency shelter for individuals who identify as male.
- 260 Brock St.
- Phone: 613-572-4892
- Open 7 days a week, from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Capacity: 12 individuals, in 12 beds
- Services offered: Meals, clothing bank, showers
Please note: This emergency shelter will open on Jan. 2, 2025.
Drop-in / day services
The following places offer services like food, showers and connections to community resources for people without permanent housing. These places are safe and provide a sense of community.
- 38 Cowdy St.
- Phone: 613-483-8580
- Drop-in services Saturday, Sunday, and statutory holidays
- 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
- Overnight drop-in also available
- Services offered: Washrooms, meals, and scheduled programming and activities
A Great Start for Families: Kahwà:tsire Ronwatiyenawá:se Centre
Drop in centre for families with children under 6 years old and expecting parents.
- 263 Weller Ave. Unit #4
- Open Monday to Friday
- 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Services offered: Programming, Indigenous supports, cooking and child-minding, washrooms
Housing Resource Centre - The Salvation Army Community and Family Services
Services for adults and youth.
- 341 Patrick St.
- Phone: 613-548-4411
- Website: Salvation Army Housing Services
- Open Monday to Friday
- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- 661 Montreal St.
- Phone: 613-329-6417
- Website: Integrated Care Hub (ICH)
- Open 7 days a week,
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Services offered:
- Connect with essential services
- Access to showers and bathrooms
- Access to computers
- Access to support workers
- Other basic needs
The Consumption Treatment Services at the ICH site (CTS) is also open 7 days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Please note: As of Dec. 1, 2024, a maximum of 10 individuals are allowed inside at one time to support safe access to essential services.
- 540 Palace Rd.
- Open Mondays
- 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 12 to 2 p.m.
- Services offered: Washrooms, meals
One Roof Youth drop-in daytime services
A community hub where youth-serving agencies provide complete services for youth ages 16-24.
- 620 Princess St.
- Phone: 613-542-6672
- Website: One Roof
- Monday – Friday
- 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Services offered: Programming, washrooms, showers, meals and laundry
- 60 Queen St.
- Open Monday – Friday
- 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Services offered: Washrooms, meals and laundry
- 260 Brock St.
- Phone: 613-546-5521
- Monday – Friday
- 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Services offered: Washrooms, showers and meals
Specialized services
These programs focus on helping women or women and their children who are escaping from harmful or dangerous environments.
Kingston Interval House – For women and children leaving abusive situations
Emergency shelter for Women, youth and children who have experienced violence.
- Phone: 613-546-1777
- Website: Kingston Interval House
- Open 24/7
- Capacity: 25 individuals, in 25 beds
- Services offered: Support services, programming, showers, laundry, meals
Please note: Kingston Interval House has a crisis line available 24/7.
Meal services
If you find yourself in the need a meal, there are places in the city that can help. Meal services are available through local programs for anyone who needs them. Check the list below to find out where to go.
- 218 Concession St.
- Open 7 days a week
- 7 to 11 p.m.
Please note: This meal service centre is moving to a new location in January 2025.
- 129 Wellington St.
- Monday to Friday
- 9 - 11:45 a.m.
- 629 Princess St.
- Open 7 days a week
- 12 - 2 p.m.
- Takeout meals are available
- 85 Steven St.
- Monday to Friday
- 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Clothing and household items are available
Please note: You need an ID and an address for accessing the emergency food pantry service.
Tommy's Restaurant or Smoke 'N Barrel
- Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Typically delivered between 3 - 4 p.m.
Please note: Approximately 20 meals are available per day and are distributed by the Home Base Housing's Street Outreach team.
Outreach services
Street Outreach Workers will check on individuals’ wellbeing and encourage people living outside to come indoors. Outreach staff also hands out blankets, sleeping bags and warm winter clothing all winter long when supplies permit.
Find below the list of outreach services providers that service the city of Kingston.
Addiction and Mental Health - KFLA
- Crisis support available 24/7
- Phone: 613-544-4229 or 1-866-616-6005
Home Base Housing's Street Outreach Team
- Provides services 7 days a week
- 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Phone: 613-542-6672 ext. 130
The Home Base Housing's Street Outreach Team plans to expand its hours of operation as of Jan.5, 2025.
Street Outreach Service in the Downtown Business Improvement Area
- Phone: 613-583-5008
- Provides services 7 days a week
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Prevention diversion services
The following organizations provide prevention services to individuals at imminent risk of homelessness and divert them from entering the shelter system through housing support services.
Public washrooms
Public washrooms are available across the city for everyone to use. These facilities are located in key areas to ensure convenience for residents and visitors alike. Explore the locations and hours of operation below.
City Hall
- Located at 216 Ontario - Lower level. Access through Market Square.
- Hours of operation: Daily from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Please note: When outdoor rink is in operation hours are extended until 10 p.m.
Visitor Information Centre
- Located at 209 Ontario St. - Lower level. Access through Confederation Park.
- Hours of operation:
- Monday to Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hotel Dieu Hospital
- Located at 166 Brock St.
- Hours of operation:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Kingston General Hospital (KGH)
- Located at 41 King Street West
- Hours of operation: Open 24/7
Camping in public spaces/encampments
Our encampment procedure sets clear guidelines for City staff and our partners in supporting people experiencing homelessness. Our goal is to help people find safer and healthier options for housing and direct them toward support services. We know that each person is different, so we will look at each case individually to support people based on their unique needs.
Enforcement of daytime sheltering prohibition
The City, with support from community partners, will have begun applying the Parks Use Bylaw.
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 bylaw 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.
We remain committed to finding safe, supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Encampment protocol procedures
We will use these procedures when we find tents or structures in public places where camping is not allowed, and on private properties.
City Bylaw staff start by working with the Street Outreach team. They visit the site, assess health and safety and find out what the people there need. Then Bylaw gives a six-hour notice to leave. During this time, Street Outreach and Housing and Social Services offer support and suggest alternatives like shelters, Integrated Care Hub, medical care or storage for personal items.
Street Outreach helps people find new places to stay. Bylaw enforces the trespass notice once alternative options are provided. Sometimes police help with enforcement if needed.
After everyone leaves, Bylaw and Public Works staff figure out what clean-up is needed to make the area safe for the public.
If you own private land and people are camping there, you can ask Street Outreach for help. They will talk to the individuals and offer support. If that does not work, you can contact Kingston Police to speak with the individuals, and they may bring support workers from other organizations, such as Addictions and Mental Health Services.
You are responsible for cleaning up your property.
Why do people get turned away from shelters?
On average, most shelters are at between 80-100% occupancy nightly. People may be turned away for one of the following reasons.
The goal of diversion is to ensure that clients have exhausted all of the existing resources before they enter a shelter.
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.
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.
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.
If a client is intoxicated to the point that they are a risk to themselves or others, they are not appropriate for the shelter.
Shelters are not staffed with healthcare professionals or personal support workers. Clients must be able to meet their needs independently (transfers, bathing, toileting, etc.).
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.
Contact
Homelessness Services
homelessness
@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-4291 ext.4895
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
