Ottawa Construction News staff writer
KINGSTON — The federal government is providing more than $1.9 million to the Homes for Heroes Foundation to support Veterans experiencing homelessness in Kingston.
The foundation opened a tiny-home village in February 2024, giving Veterans access to safe and affordable housing. Residents receive counselling, job training, and mental health services as they work toward stability and independence. Living in a community of fellow Veterans offers mutual support and a sense of belonging, helping residents regain autonomy.
“The support we have received over the past 2 years from Veteran Homelessness Program (VHP) has been crucial to the assistance we provide to our residents,” said Brad Field, president and CEO of the Homes for Heroes Foundation. “Our dedicated team works tirelessly to help those who defended Canada reintegrate into civilian life. We take pride in having the ongoing federal government’s support to give back to those who stood guard for us.
“Kingston is our third Veterans’ Village, and we are currently in the construction phase for two more locations in London and Winnipeg. Together, we are confident that we can eliminate the issue of Veterans’ homelessness.”
Opened in June 2024, the Kingston Veterans’ Village was made possible through the support of all levels of government, national stakeholders, local businesses, social groups, and individuals across Canada. The local steering committee, led by Mark Hutchings, played an instrumental role in the success of this project.
The village’s design pays homage to Kingston’s beautiful architecture, featuring 20 tiny homes, a resource center, case manager offices, therapy rooms, community gardens, and outdoor recreation spaces.
The Kingston Veterans’ Village was constructed with the assistance of Northern Shield Developments, a company based in Barrie, Ontario. The modular homes were assembled in Barrie before being transported to Kingston for installation.
The VHP is part of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS), a 10-year, $115-billion-plus plan to provide more Canadians with a place to call home. Through the Services and Supports stream, $72.9 million is allocated for rent supplements and supportive services such as counselling and substance use treatment, while the Capacity Building stream provides $6.2 million for research, data collection, and organizational support.
“Our government is proud to support this important project in Kingston,” said Hon. Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. “Homes for Heroes is offering Veterans a safe place to live and the resources they need to thrive. Initiatives like this ensure those who have served our country receive the care and opportunities they deserve.”
According to Statistics Canada, there are an estimated 461,240 Canadian Veterans, and over 2,000 are experiencing homelessness nationwide as of April 2025. The funding also complements other federal initiatives, including Reaching Home, which invests $5 billion over nine years to prevent and reduce homelessness, and the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, which provides $250 million over two years to support communities in addressing unsheltered homelessness.
H4HF partners with Veterans Affairs Canada and local social service agencies to identify Veterans in need and connect them to the program. Support is provided through one-on-one counselling, group therapy sessions, and additional programming offered by Veterans Affairs Canada and its partners. This holistic approach enables Village residents to overcome their personal challenges in a safe, clean, and supportive environment. The ultimate goal is for each resident to achieve stability, secure employment, and attain the ability to live independently.