Ontario Celebrating More Supportive Housing in Kawartha Lakes

April 7, 2026

New emergency shelter opens for people experiencing homelessness

LINDSAY — 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 

MEDIA CONTACT  

Michael Minzak
Minister’s Office
michael.minzak@ontario.ca

MMAH Communications Branch
MMA.media@ontario.ca