A BIT ABOUT US

What we Provide

Permanent and affordable Supportive Housing for women
Emergency Housing for women
Transitional Housing for women
Advocacy and Counselling
Individualized and group programming, workshops and supports
System navigation and community mapping
Basic necessities -food, clothing, personal care products and "a whole lot of love"
Life skills including - coping, budgeting, cooking, cleaning, sewing, goal setting and more
Wellness programming
Community outreach

Our Journey

Dawn House Women’s Shelter was founded in 1986 in response to a housing crisis in the City of Kingston. A diverse group of community individuals and organizations contributed to the setup and establishment as a non-profit, charitable organization that would provide a 24-hour crisis line and emergency shelter, support and resources for women over the age of 16, with or without children.

Due to funding changes Dawn House Women's Shelter closed it doors as a shelter in 2016. With the determination, fast thinking and commitment of those involved with the agency, Dawn House was able to adjust and adapt and re-opened in 2017 in a new location providing Transitional and Long Term Supportive Housing.

The first group of women took up residence in the new Dawn House in October of 2017 while Dawn House was still a work in progress.

In January 2023, Dawn House opened a second location at 805 Ridley Drive with two wings: Christine's Hope in the East Wing, and Specialized Transitional Housing located in the West Wing.

Building supportive affordable housing for sixteen women was the first step in a more ambitious plan to help end homelessness in Kingston by providing more affordable housing for women of all ages.

Since its inception in 1986, there have been over 6,000 stays.