Sleeping Cabin Program seeks input on possible permanent locations
Update (Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023):
According to the City of Kingston, the location for the Thursday, Sept. 28 public information session on the potential permanent location of the Sleeping Cabins Program at Rodden Park has been changed. The City stated the location change is in order to accommodate more attendees, and will now take place at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour — where the Sleeping Cabins are currently being move to for the winter from their summer location at Centre 70. Portsmouth Olympic Harbour is located at 53 Yonge Street in Portsmouth Village. The information session — which is intended to collection public feedback on the two potential permanent locations for the cabins — is in-person only, and will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.
Please see below for further information on these public meetings, as well as other ways Kingston residents can provide feedback on the proposed locations.
Original article (Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at 11:23 a.m.):
At the November 7, 2023, meeting of Kingston City Council, councillors will vote on moving the Sleeping Cabins Program to a permanent location, according to Our Livable Solutions (OLS), which oversees the operations of the cabins.
Underlining that they are “hopeful” council will come to a long-awaited decision on a permanent location for the cabins, OLS is seeking community feedback on two possible permanent locations for the sleeping cabins: Rideau Marina at 48A Point St. Mark Drive, or Rodden Park at 87 Norman Rogers Drive.
On Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, OLS is holding an information session for anyone interested in learning more about the cabin community. Join OLS staff and residents on Zoom at 7 p.m. for an informational session about the community’s unique model, life at the cabins, new initiatives and ways you can be part of the solution. OLS is asking interested participants to email to request a meeting link.
Learn more about the program, review community feedback OLS has received on the locations, and share your thoughts on the possibility of having the cabins at Rideau Marina or Rodden Park at in-person information sessions:
- Rideau Marina: Kingston East Community Centre, Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Rodden Park: Calvin Park Library, Thursday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.
According to the City of Kingston’s Get Involved page, parking and accessible washrooms are available at both locations.
The public can provide feedback by
- Completing the City of Kingston feedback survey here. The survey will close on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.
- Emailing the City Clerk [email protected] a letter by Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023 about how you have interacted with the sleeping cabin program and why you support moving our community to a permanent location. Ask for distribution to the City of Kingston Mayor and Councillors.
The last round of public engagement regarding the permanent location of the sleeping cabins took place in February 2023. Prior to that, City Council’s previous direction had a permanent location expected to be selected and ready by late 2023.
Visit the Get Involved Kingston page for more details on the two proposed locations, and links to provide feedback.
This survey in it’s current format is far too simplistic.
The email survey circulated to Kingston residents presents the issue of location as one resolved by simply checking the boxes.
The whole issue of ‘sleeping cabins’, given the experiences and track record to date, is obviously a complex socioeconomic one, not to be resolved by a simple questionnaire circulated to the taxpayers of Kingston.
This questionnaire serves no purpose other than to tap into the current mood of those responding.
Back to the drawing board Staff. If you’re going to ask the tax payer key questions, then present a complete picture of the subject, not bits and pieces.
A final point. This survey says “All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.”. There are no asterisks apparent on the survey form. Shoddy workmanship.
I agree w/ the WordPress commenter [they should work on a different name!!]
Will whatever land is chosen be ‘policed’? What segment of the ‘unhoused’ will be able to live there. Will ‘safe-injection sites’ be able to dole out a two or three day supply to addicts or will it be a ‘one shot while you wait’ situation? [Addicts have been know to sell part of their supply] This will not be a benign ‘incampment’, no matter what the experts say. Hopefully these heated homes will forestall the possible burning of different substances which might contain toxins.