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

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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.

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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.

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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.