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The following is a submitted Op-Ed. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Kingstonist. Nearly one year ago, Belle Park became the epicenter of the homelessness crisis in Kingston. With rising COVID-19 case numbers, declines in shelter capacity to accommodate social distancing, and stringent isolation
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Though the doors are open, work remains to be completed at the City’s new Integrated Care Hub (ICH) at 661 Montreal St. The facility moved from Artillery Park to its new location on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, and several interior and exterior projects are still on the go. According to
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On the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, City of Kingston Staff began implementing City Council’s decision to extend the bylaw exemption allowing campers to remain in Belle Park until the end of July, 2020. The temporary services that had been provided to those camping at Belle Park which have
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The City’s Integrated Care Hub at Artillery Park opened on a part-time schedule on Monday, Jul. 20, 2020. Originally announced as a 24/7 drop-in centre opening this week, the hub appears to have launched with a soft opening, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, and closed for one hour
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The following is a letter to the editor. The views and opinions expressed in this letter do not necessarily reflect those of Kingstonist. While 200 people gathered in Belle Park on the evening of Tuesday, July 7, 2020 with music and speeches in support of the rights of Belle Park residents
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An Integrated Care Hub to serve Kingston’s most vulnerable population is set to open at Artillery Park on Monday, July. 20, 2020. HIV/AIDS Regional Services (HARS) and Street Health Centre announced the establishment of the new 24/7 drop-in centre on Wednesday, Jul. 15, 2020. The location will provide a centre
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The meeting of Kingston City Council on Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2020 immediately got down to business, first tackling the deadline for the bylaw exemption allowing for the homeless encampment at Belle Park to remain. In fact, that’s almost all Council was able to accomplish of the full agenda that lay
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Approximately 200 people came out in solidarity with the homeless occupants of Belle Park at an on-site rally on the evening of Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2020. Hosted by Mutual Aid Katarokwi Kingston (MAKK), the event saw park residents and community supporters take turns speaking and playing music before a masked,
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After months of people camping at Belle Park and the City of Kingston indicating the homeless encampment was “very temporary,” the City is now clarifying that today, Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2020, is not an eviction date for those living in the park. “We would like to clarify that July 7,
Read more The following is a letter to the editor. The views and opinions expressed in this letter do not necessarily reflect those of Kingstonist. We are a group of physicians and health professionals who have been concerned about the situation at Belle Park tent encampment over the past few months. As you
Read more Members of the City’s Homelessness and Housing Advisory Committee (HHAC) are at a loss following the postponement of their June meeting to Jul. 8, 2020, one day after the eviction date for Belle Park’s residents. “After consultation with the Chair, it has been determined that the June 11 meeting of
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Kingston City Council added a meeting to their calendar, sitting for meeting number 20-2020 (agenda) on Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2020 in its electronic format. Called a “special” meeting only because it falls outside of regular scheduling, council only received updates for the Stage 2 reopening plan and an update surrounding
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