Community groups in Kingston, Ontario, are raising concerns about a growing gap in support for vulnerable residents as the city navigates an increase in homelessness this March 2026. The move comes as local organizations highlight the need for more housing and support services to keep pace with the number of people living without permanent shelter.
According to the City of Kingston, there were 586 individuals on the official homelessness registry as of June 2025. This number has been rising over several years, with cases of long-term homelessness more than doubling from 136 in 2020 to 296 by 2023.
To address the shortage of spaces, the municipal government approved $10 million in the 2026 budget for affordable, supportive, and transitional housing. Part of this effort includes developing the Sydenham Road Shelter to provide more stable living conditions for those in need.
These local initiatives are taking place while the Ontario Provincial Government moves to close supervised consumption sites located near schools. Local advocacy groups are concerned that these closures will remove essential lifelines for vulnerable neighbours and put additional pressure on the city’s existing housing and emergency systems.
