As hundreds of residents continue living unhoused, Kingston announced it reached a national milestone in coordinating local supports.
The City of Kingston announced May 7 that Kingston had become the 21st community in Canada to meet federal standards for two homelessness response tools under the Reaching Home program: a “By-Name List” and a coordinated access system.
A By-Name List is a real-time list of people experiencing homelessness in the region that is shared across participating service providers. Coordinated access systems are designed to help agencies prioritize and connect individuals with housing, outreach, and support services based on need.
In a statement to The Journal, the City said meeting the federal milestone means “the local system is better equipped to connect people to appropriate housing and supports when they need them most.”
As the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager for Kingston and Frontenac County, the City said it oversees the coordination and administration of local housing and homelessness services alongside community partners.
United Way Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington reported more than 4,400 individual accessed housing supports in 2024, including shelters, counselling, warming centres, and transitional housing programs.
The organization also reported 404 households received eviction prevention support and legal aid to remain housed, while 420 children and youth accessed housing supports, counselling, medication, and shelter services.
While the recognition highlights improvements in coordination and planning, homelessness remains an issue locally. Kingston’s By-Name List recorded an average of 524 people experiencing homelessness every month in 2024.
The city said the milestone recognition follows approximately five years of work strengthening the local homelessness response system. Kingston has added 95 emergency shelter spaces across four locations since the last review of the city’s housing plan in 2019.
The statement said 183 transitional and permanent supportive housing units have been completed through 13 projects, with another 73 transitional units currently under construction and 35 more in development. 189 affordable housing units have also been completed across 13 sites, while 39 additional units are under construction and another 187 remain in the development pipeline.
Kingston is currently updating its 10-Year Municipal Housing and Homelessness Plan, a provincially required strategy that guides local housing and homelessness policy. According to the City, the plan is reviewed every five years to reflect changing community needs and priorities.
Tags
City of Kingston, Homelessness, National Milestone, United Way KFL&A
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