ONTARIO CELEBRATING MORE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN KAWARTHA LAKES
New emergency shelter opens for people experiencing homelessness
April 07, 2026
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and HousingLINDSAY — The Ontario government is marking the opening of the Integrated Care
Hub, a new emergency shelter with twelve beds in Kawartha Lakes. The project was
funded by the province with an $850,000 investment to help provide more
supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.
“Every person in Ontario deserves access to safe and stable housing,” said Rob
Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Together with our municipal
partners, our government is expanding supportive housing across the province to
protect our most vulnerable residents and ensure they have a safe place to
rebuild their lives.”
Located at 22 Peel Street, the Integrated Care Hub provides drop-in space, life
skills support and health-related services in partnership with local service
providers and Ontario Health. The shelter is situated close to essential
amenities and is owned and operated by the John Howard Society of the Kawarthas.
“The City of Kawartha Lakes appreciates the funding from the Ontario government,
and we would like to thank the staff and volunteers at the John Howard Society
for their work in making this Integrated Care Hub a reality,” said Doug Elmslie,
Mayor of the City of Kawartha Lakes. “This emergency shelter will make a huge
difference in our community and will allow residents to get the care they need.
Our community is founded on compassion and coming together, and the Integrated
Care Hub is emblematic of our collective commitment to lifting each other up. We
are grateful for the support of all involved.”
Today’s announcement is part of the government’s Homelessness Prevention Program
(HPP),
a provincially funded program to address and prevent homelessness.
QUICK FACTS
* In 2025–26, Ontario allocated $654 million through the Homelessness
Prevention Program (HPP).
* Through the HPP, municipal service managers have the flexibility to determine
how to use the funding for programs and services that address and prevent
homelessness in their communities, such as housing assistance, support
services, and supportive housing, including capital projects such as creating
emergency shelters.
QUOTES
“It’s a testament to the strength of the partnership between the province, the
city, and local organizations that we are able to deliver meaningful projects
like the Integrated Care Hub for the local community in Kawartha Lakes. By
providing access to a safe shelter, health services and wraparound supports,
this project exemplifies our government’s commitment to protecting all
Ontarians, including our most vulnerable.”
– Matthew Rae
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
“Our government is working in partnership with the municipality to deliver
effective, community-based programs that address and prevent homelessness in the
City of Kawartha Lakes. We are investing in local solutions to create pathways
to stability for vulnerable residents and providing access to the supports they
need, when they need them most.”
– Laurie Scott
Member of Provincial Parliament, Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock
“We are incredibly grateful to the Ontario government and the City of Kawartha
Lakes for their support through the HPP funding. The Community Integrated Care
Hub is a purpose-built space designed to provide low-barrier, person-centered
services grounded in a harm reduction framework. Through a ‘No Wrong Door’
approach, the hub centralizes services and offers wrap-around supports so people
can access what they need in one place, from basic needs like showers, laundry,
meals, and a safe overnight space for stabilization, to service navigation and
connections to health and community supports. This hub represents a
compassionate and practical response to complex challenges in our community, and
we are excited to begin welcoming guests and continuing this work alongside our
partners.”
– Kristal Jones
Program Director, Community Integrated Care Hub, John Howard Society of the
Kawarthas
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Learn more about supportive housing in Ontarioand find your local service managerto see what housing supports are available in your community.
Read the 2026 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario.
