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.

For more information about Warming and Cooling Centres, visit the Warm Up and Cool Down Locations page.

Want a printable resource? You can download and print:

Open the full page Homelessness Services Map.

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, healthier housing options and direct them to 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 By-law.

To facilitate this change, municipal and agency support staff are proactively communicating it 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 to shelter, transportation, and storage options for their belongings. Daytime storage options for shelters and belongings, as well as 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. The By-law gives a six-hour notice to leave. During this time, Street Outreach and Housing and Social Services offer support and suggest alternatives such as shelters, the Integrated Care Hub, medical care, or storage for personal items. 

Street Outreach helps people find new places to stay. By-law enforces the trespass notice once alternative options are provided. Sometimes, police help with enforcement if needed. 

After everyone leaves, By-law and Public Works staff figure out what cleanup 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 the shelter. Staff will have a conversation about 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: 613-546-2695 ext.4895

The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, 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.