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Empowering Communities to Act in Moments That Matter
Empowering Communities to Act in Moments That Matter
Our Livable Solutions (OLS) is dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity through initiatives that prioritize safety, dignity, and empowerment. In our daily work, we frequently encounter the devastating consequences of preventable medical crises. Too often, peers leave someone in distress unattended, not from lack of concern, but from panic, uncertainty, or an inability to recognize the seriousness of the situation. This lack of response capacity places vulnerable lives at risk and increases the burden on emergency services.
For people living without stable housing, exposure to health emergencies is a daily reality, whether from opioid emergencies, chronic health conditions, environmental exposure, or injury. Unfortunately, those most likely to be present when an emergency occurs often lack the skills to intervene effectively. Community feedback consistently highlights the same concern: peers panic or leave the scene, and emergencies escalate unnecessarily. This not only leads to avoidable fatalities but also puts additional pressure on paramedics, hospitals, and the coroner’s office. Equipping people with basic first aid and CPR skills directly addresses this gap.
With these skills, individuals can:
Remain calm and provide immediate aid in emergencies.
Support peers until professional help arrives.
Reduce unnecessary 911 calls in situations that can be managed safely.
Save lives through early recognition of emergencies and timely interventions.
Importantly, first aid certification also provides practical benefits beyond emergency response.
The Standard First Aid & CPR C certification is a requirement for many employment opportunities, meaning participants who complete this training may also gain an entry point to jobs.
Partnership is at the heart of this initiative. Push for Life will provide the training, funding has been generously provided by St Mark's Lutheran Church and charitable bingo funds through Play! Gaming & Entertainment. Community service providers will be invited to co-host sessions, expanding reach and ensuring training is embedded across the community network.
The Community First Aid Training Campaign offers a practical, high-impact approach to improving safety, resilience, and empowerment among people in need of housing. By equipping individuals with lifesaving skills, we enable them to protect one another, reduce avoidable emergencies, and access new opportunities. OLS, in partnership with Push for Life and other community organizations, is committed to making this campaign a success. With the necessary resources, this initiative will not only save lives but also foster collaboration and strengthen the fabric of our community.
Program Overview
OLS has started a Community First Aid Training Campaign in partnership with Push for Life, a certified first aid training provider. The campaign will remove barriers to training for people in need of housing by offering flexible, accessible opportunities to complete certification. Two course options will be available:
Standard First Aid & CPR C Required for employment in many fields. Consists of 6 hours of online learning plus 1 full day of in-person training. Best suited for participants with access to technology and capacity for online coursework.
Emergency First Aid & CPR Delivered entirely in-person. Covers the same lifesaving content as the Standard course but is not recognized for employment purposes. Designed for participants with limited technology access or less capacity for extended training.
Both streams cover core topics including CPR, AED use, choking response, bleeding control, burns, fractures, and recognition of cardiac and respiratory emergencies.
Program Goals and Targets
The central goal is to train approximately 100 participants, representing 10% of Kingston, Ontario's homeless population. Depending on the balance between Standard and Emergency courses, the total trained could range from 90 to 120 individuals.
Specific objectives are to:
Strengthen community safety by equipping people in need of housing with lifesaving skills.
Reduce preventable deaths and serious medical crises.
Lessen the load on emergency services by empowering individuals to manage some emergencies effectively.
Provide participants with transferable skills that may enhance future employment opportunities.
Foster collaboration among local service providers by co-hosting training opportunities.
Program Delivery
To maximize accessibility and ensure broad participation, the program will be delivered in several ways:
Participants who can schedule and attend on their own will be integrated into Push for Life’s regular classes, as OLS staff, alumni and volunteers currently are.
OLS will partner with other service providers to host dedicated training sessions at their locations, ensuring accessibility for individuals who may not otherwise attend.
Training groups will remain small, capped at 10 participants per class, to foster engagement and confidence.
Non-traditional venues such as community spaces or parks may be used, ensuring flexibility and inclusivity.
Training is being rolled out gradually over several months to a year, allowing time for recruitment, scheduling, and consistent engagement.
Open Training Sessions will be listed here, when space is available.
Help organize training sessions, collaborate with community service providers, encourage participants.
No First Aid experience is necessary to volunteer with this initiative, but, OLS does encourage and provide first aid training with all of OLS's Volunteers.
Your gift helps OLS cover the costs of training, equipping, and hosting First Aid Training Sessions.
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