Region to Open New King Street Emergency Shelter as part of Interim Housing Solutions Strategy

August 01, 2025

Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo will open a new emergency shelter for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness at 1668 King Street East, Kitchener. The shelter will open on September 29, 2022 and will replace the shelter currently operating at 104 Stirling Avenue South, Kitchener in the former Edith MacIntosh Child Care Centre. The last night of operations at the Edith MacIntosh shelter is September 28, 2022.

In response to feedback from individuals with lived experience, the King Street Shelter will support all gender identities, couples, and pets.

“In selecting the location, we considered the feasibility of activating the site quickly to provide urgent response, its proximity to public transportation, the availability of support services and the viability from a service provider perspective,” said Kelly-Anne Salerno, Assistant Director of Housing Operations and Administration.  

Operated by The Working Centre, the King Street site will provide urgently needed shelter services. In phase one, it will provide services for up to 70 individuals from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., seven days a week for the first few months. In phase two, the plan is for the shelter to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with increased capacity for a period of 18 – 24 months, as part of the Region of Waterloo’s Interim Housing Solutions strategy.

“The support and understanding of the broader community will be vital as we come together to address the complexity of the homelessness crisis in Waterloo Region,” said Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Community Services. “We will be asking the community to be active participants in the public consultation that will take place as part of the development of the Homelessness Master Plan in early 2023. In the meantime, I encourage those who have questions or want to provide feedback about the King Street Shelter or the Region’s Interim Housing Solutions strategy, to please reach out to us.”

The King Street Shelter is one part of the Region’s new Interim Housing Solutions strategy, approved by Region of Waterloo Council on August 18, 2022. The strategy addresses the challenging and complex issue of unsheltered homelessness using four key tools:

  • Expanding the Transitional Housing Program;
  • Expanding the Home-Based Support Program;
  • Expanding the Emergency Shelter Program; and
  • Permitting a temporary managed Hybrid Shelter/Outdoor Model.

In addition, the Region will create a Homelessness Master Plan, which will guide the Region’s work to prevent and end homelessness with longer-term solutions.

To ask questions and provide feedback, please contact the Region of Waterloo Housing Services Team by:

https://www.engagewr.ca/interim-housing-solutions

  • Emailing interimhousingsolutions@regionofwaterloo.ca
  • Calling 519-575-4400, ext. 5008

 

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Background

The number of people currently experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region is unprecedented. Similar to many communities across Canada, we are seeing the effects of poverty, mental health issues, rising housing costs and impacts of the opioid crisis, first-hand in Waterloo Region.

The Region of Waterloo estimates there are about 1,000 people currently experiencing homelessness across the region, including about 450 people experiencing homelessness for long periods of time (chronic homelessness). 

 

As the Service System Manager for Housing and Homelessness, the Region works with local municipalities and community partners to work on this very complex issue. The Region is also actively engaging with other levels of government on the necessary investments needed for permanent, sustainable solutions.