Welcoming Streets
Caring for Community. Together.
The Welcoming Streets program is dedicated to fostering a safe, inclusive, and vibrant downtown Kingston by supporting individuals experiencing vulnerability and empowering local businesses to respond with confidence and compassion.
Proactive Engagement
The Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area (BIA), in partnership with Addictions & Mental Health Services – KFLA, works to connect individuals with essential services while equipping businesses with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to navigate complex situations in their spaces.
Through proactive engagement, crisis response, and meaningful collaboration, Welcoming Streets strengthens relationships between businesses, community members, and service providers. By reducing barriers to support and enhancing community capacity, we contribute to improved safety, increased well-being, and a more welcoming, resilient downtown for all.
Welcoming Streets is available
Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Contact info: phone 613-583-5008
Email: welcome@downtownkingston.ca
Is your business struggling with social challenges? Book a free PASS assessment today.
Not sure where to turn? Find the right contact for your situation - day or night.
Found a needle or sharp? learn how to dispose of it safety and who to contact for support.
Want to contribute to your downtown community? Explore donation opportunities here
Practical training to help your team navigate social challenges with confidence. Learn more here.
Our Team
Rachel Dingemans
With a degree in Forensic Psychology and frontline experience working in shelters and as a Case Manager in Kingston, Rachel is dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable members of the community. She believes in building trust, meeting people where they are, and helping connect individuals to the services and supports that can make a meaningful difference.
Welcoming Streets Supervisor
Ainsley Wronski
With diplomas in Law Clerk, Paralegal, and Child and Youth Practitioner programs, along with experience in youth justice and community outreach, Ainsley brings a compassionate down-to-earth approach to her work. Drawing on both professional and lived experience, she focuses on building trust, fostering connection, and supporting people in a way that feels respectful and human.
Community Support Liaison
AMHS-KFLA Case Manager
Kim Wills
With a degree in Sociology and a Social Service Worker diploma, Kim Wills has spent over 15 years working alongside community members to provide nonjudgmental support, practical resources, and a listening ear. Kim is committed to challenging stigma, reducing systemic barriers, she believes every person has the right to be seen, heard, and supported.
Community Calendar
In Collaboration with:
Welcoming Streets is partially funded by the Provincial Homelessness Prevention Program.
The program operates through a collaborative partnership between three organizations:
The City of Kingston, Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area (BIA),
and Lennox and Addington Mental Health and Addiction Services (AMHS-KFLA).