PELASS transitional housing program partners with local landlords to address homelessness

Prince Edward-Lennox and Addington Social Services is putting the adage “you can never go home again” to the test. Through their transitional housing, this organization helps provide homes for the homeless and hopes to expand their services in the future. 

Pam Kent, Acting Director for PELASS, took some time to speak about the organization’s scope and successes.

PELASS operates two Transitional Housing Programs, one of these is through the Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Housing Corporation and the other is through a partnership with local landlords.

Going into detail on the former, Kent noted that PELASS rents houses from private landlords. 

“The landlord maintains the home/property and PELASS (along with many community partners) provides support to the people living there. Occupancy agreements are used as this is temporary, supportive housing,” Kent stated.

Those in transitional housing can expect their own, private bedroom and shared common spaces, such as living room, kitchen, and washroom.

Transitional housing offered through the housing corporation is allocated using a By Name List (BNL). 

“PELASS offers one in every tenth vacancy in our LHC portfolio (421 units) with a person from the BNL,” explained Kent. “People who are successful in maintaining their occupancy in the Transitional Housing Program may be given an opportunity to move into the LHC portfolio.”

While a relief, the first six months of this type of housing are temporary. After this time, assuming all goes well, individuals can move from an occupancy agreement to a lease, thereby becoming a permanent tenant.

Between their two housing programs, PELASS currently has 24 transitional housing rooms in Napanee and five in Picton.

According to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, over 80,000 Ontarians faced homelessness in 2024. Transitional housing, which often operates on a waitlist, is crucial to secure homes for this demographic. 

Locally, mentioned Kent, PELASS has a Homelessness Working Group comprised of representatives from various agencies, including the Town of Greater Napanee, Salvation Army, OPP, Addictions and Mental Health Services-Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington, Napanee and Area Community Health Centre, Morningstar Mission, Next Step Housing, and Community Paramedics. 

There’s no doubt homelessness can be an insolating experience, especially as it pertains to an individual’s ability to communicate via phone or email.

Kent explained that various community partners, outreach workers, and others work with clients “where they are”. 

“It could be an encampment, warming centre, shelter, or other precarious housing arrangement,” said Kent. “Individuals in these places are invited to sign up for the BNL. From there, they are assigned a BNL caseworker who creates a service plan and connects them with people and agencies that will support them.”

Kent noted that there are currently 76 people active on the BNL, but that it’s important to note that 36 of those are currently in transitional housing.

There’s no doubt the housing crisis has put great strain on transitional-and other-types of housing. 

“Transitional housing is usually full,” said Kent.

Nonetheless, time on the waitlist varies, and Kent is careful to note that it is often dependent on both housing availability and an individual’s ability to adapt to the dynamics within transitional homes.

“Undiagnosed mental health conditions and substance use disorders can make it difficult to place someone successfully,” she stated. “If a client is willing to engage in supports, it is likely they could be housed in less than six months.”

Despite battling an increasing need, the Transitional Housing Program has proven successful in several ways. Since 2021, PELASS has had 98 people live in transitional housing, solved homelessness for 41 people, and they continue to support 36 individuals.

“As of mid-February 2025, PELASS has housed people for a total of 40,733 nights,” noted Kent. “Not only has this been beneficial for people participating in the program, it also directly relates to a reduction in service needs from paramedics, hospitals, police, the justice system, and other community organizations.”

When asked about the future of transitional housing, Kent stressed the need to address the lack of affordable housing. She describes this as one of the main issues driving homelessness.

For those on Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, the cost of living far outpaces the income they’re given.

“Some people living in transitional housing are in receipt of Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits. The maximum a single person can receive from OW is $390/month. Meanwhile, the maximum rent from ODSP for a single person is $582/month,” said Kent.

With average market rent for a one-bedroom apartment more than $1,200, paying this sum every month is simply untenable for most in the Transitional Housing Program.

“While we would like to expand this program, we need to be able to have an ongoing supply of affordable housing to allow people to progress through the system, or ‘graduate’ from transitional housing to permanent housing,” Kent stated.