Why?

Every person deserves a safe, stable place to call home. Yet in Kingston, more and more of our neighbours are living without homes, often for long periods, and without the supports they need to move forward. At Our Livable Solutions (OLS), we believe that community-led, compassionate, and housing-focused responses can change this story. 

We do this work because every person matters, and because a more caring and livable Kingston is possible.

It’s important to understand that the numbers on the By-Name List significantly under-represent the true number of people in Kingston who need housing. This data is only gathered from individuals who engage with the system designed to collect it, yet many people avoid that system for very real and valid reasons. Experiences of stigma, discrimination, racism, colonial systems of harm, child welfare involvement, criminalization, and a lack of trust in service systems all contribute to people staying unseen in official counts. Others move between unsafe or temporary places, couch-surf with friends or relatives, or remain hidden to avoid judgment or interference. These realities mean that the homelessness crisis is larger and more urgent than the data alone can show. The undercount reinforces why OLS and community-led solutions are essential, people deserve support that is safe, dignified, and free from barriers that push them further into the margins.

Kingston faces unique housing challenges. Rents have risen faster than incomes, vacancy rates remain among the lowest in Ontario, and shelter spaces cannot keep up with the need. Many people are left without safe options, and those experiencing chronic homelessness often remain without homes for months or years.