Helping Kingston's Homeless: A New Approach to Housing

You might think the solution to homelessness is simple – just provide housing. But it's not that easy. Homelessness is a big, complicated problem that affects our whole society. That's why solving it takes time and effort. On September 23, 2024, the City of Kingston held an open house to talk about plans for 309 Queen Mary Road. You've probably heard about the protests and worried neighbors. But let's focus on the good news: this project is all about teamwork, new ideas, and helping the community. It's about creating transitional housing that can make a real difference. So, what is transitional housing? It's not a treatment site, a shelter, or a medical facility. It's a safe, secure place to live where people can learn life skills, get help with daily tasks, and have fun. It's designed to help people become independent and live in their own homes. The Queen Mary Road project is a great example. The Extendicare Kingston location will be turned into a multi-use facility with transitional housing. The city is paying for most of it, using money from the Affordable Housing Capital Budget and some reserve funds.There will be 35 spaces for people over 55 with mobility issues. They'll have their own private space and shared areas for cooking and activities. What makes this project special is the extra support. There will be a health center for primary care and a team of community partners to help with mental health, addictions, social skills, and physical rehab. You might think this sounds expensive. But compared to hospital stays ($30,000 a month) or shelters ($6,000-$7,000 a month), supportive housing only costs $4,000 a month. Plus, the residents will pay rent that helps cover costs, but it will be based on their income or provincial supports. The city council approved this project on October 15, 2024. It took a lot of work to find a location, get the money, and build a team. But it's happening. Renovations will start this winter, and the project should open late 2025 or early 2026. This is great news, but there's still a lot to do. There are over 600 unhoused people in Kingston. Cities across Canada need different types of housing – affordable, supportive, and for people with disabilities, youth, seniors, and others with special needs. The Queen Mary Road project shows that solutions are possible. We just need the money and the will to make them happen.