City launches residential air conditioner assistance pilot program to support older residents

A municipal pilot project aims to provide relief from high indoor temperatures to older adults starting this summer. The City of Kingston is launching the Residential Air Conditioner Assistance Program to provide a limited number of free AC units to eligible residents.

At its meeting on March 10, 2026, Council endorsed a motion directing staff to research options on a potential residential air conditioner pilot program and report back to Council this spring. On April 21, 2026, staff presented Report Number 26-126 to provide information on existing Ontario municipal programs and options to consider for a City of Kingston pilot program. At that same meeting, Council approved $17,000 from the Environmental Reserve Fund to implement the pilot program and directed staff to report back in 2027. “Long periods of extreme heat can be detrimental to our health, particularly for older residents with pre-existing medical conditions,” says Ruth Noordegraaf, Director of Community Development & Well-being and IIDEA. “The pilot program is an impactful next step as we develop our enhanced Community Heat Response Plan to help all residents prepare for higher indoor temperatures during the summer months.”

The City will purchase the air conditioning units with the approved funding from the Environmental Reserve Fund. The City has partnered with United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington to coordinate volunteers to help distribute the units and provide the option to help install the units to reduce barriers for program recipients.

After the unit is installed, recipients are responsible for submitting warranty paperwork and for any ongoing maintenance and utility costs associated with the AC unit. City staff will follow up with recipients of the AC units to complete an evaluation by the end of 2026 to gather data on the impact of the program and report back to Council.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants to the program must:

• Be age 65 or older
• Live in the City of Kingston
• Meet the low-income threshold (Statistics Canada Low-Income-Measure plus 15 per cent)
  • LIM thresholds for 2026 (including additional 15 per cent)
    • 1-person household - $34,793
    • 2-person household - $49,205
    • 3-person household - $60,263
    • 4-person household - $69,587
    • 5-person household - $77,800
    • 6-person household - $85,225
    • 7-person household - $92,054
    • 8-person household - $98,410
    • 9-person household - $104,380
    • 10-person household - $110,020
• Live in a multi-residential building
• Self-declare if they were advised by a medical professional to purchase an air conditioner to address an existing medical condition (no documentation is required)

Apply today

Interested residents are invited to apply before June 10 at 4 p.m. Applicants can apply:

• Online at MyKingston.ca
• By completing a paper application in person at:
  • Artillery Park Aquatic Centre, 382 Bagot St.
  • Housing and Social Services, 362 Montreal St.
  • INVISTA Centre, 1350 Gardiners Rd.
  • Kingston East Community Centre, 779 Hwy. 15
  • Rideau Heights Community Centre, 85 McCauley St.

Applicants who meet the program criteria will be placed into a randomized draw to receive an AC unit as limited units are available. Successful recipients will be contacted by City staff the week of June 15.