The Ontario government has announced the opening of a new emergency shelter aimed at supporting people experiencing homelessness in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The Integrated Care Hub, located at 22 Peel Street in Lindsay, features 12 beds and offers a range of supports, including drop-in space, life skills programming and access to health services through partnerships with local providers and Ontario Health.
The project received $850,000 in provincial funding through Ontario’s Homelessness Prevention Program.
“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.”
The facility is owned and operated by the John Howard Society of the Kawarthas and is located near essential services in the community.
PTBOTODAY.ca spoke with CEO Dana Hetherton.
Mayor Doug Elmslie welcomed the investment, calling the project a significant addition to local supports.
“This emergency shelter will make a huge difference in our community and will allow residents to get the care they need,” Elmslie said. “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.”
The announcement is part of the province’s broader Homelessness Prevention Program, which allocated $654 million in 2025–26 to help municipalities deliver housing assistance, support services and capital projects such as shelters.
Matthew Rae, parliamentary assistant to the housing minister, said the project highlights the impact of collaboration between governments and community organizations.
“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,” Rae said.
Local MPP Laurie Scott said the funding supports community-based solutions to homelessness.
“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,” Scott said.
Kristal Jones, program director for the hub, said the facility is designed as a low-barrier, person-centred space offering wraparound supports.
The hub will provide access to basic needs such as meals, showers and laundry, along with a safe overnight space and connections to health and social services, using what she described as a “no wrong door” approach.
Officials say the new hub is intended to provide both immediate relief and longer-term pathways to stability for residents facing homelessness in the region.
(Written by: Jordan Mercier with files from Branden Rushton)
