Kingston, Ont. residents living in encampment told to leave by Monday
The city of Kingston says residents living in an encampment on city property must move by March 27, in the latest effort to have unhoused individuals move into shelter spaces.
There are approximately 30 people living in an encampment around the Integrated Care Hub (ICH) on Montreal Street and the nearby Belle Park.
Earlier this year, trespass notices were issued to those camping on city property, saying that anyone living in parks and trails would need to move.
At the time, the city said bylaws prevented people from camping in public parks. The city was in hopes of moving people into newly created shelter spaces.
City Council voted on Jan. 10 to suspend the trespass notices until this past Monday.
Now that the moratorium has lifted, new notices were given to residents on Wednesday giving people until March 27 to vacate the encampment. The city is hoping to move them into shelter spaces during the next few days.
"Recognizing that the situation at the encampment will be extremely fluid, the city, with support from its partners, will relocate unhoused individuals living in the Belle Park/ICH area in a respectful, safe and empathetic manner no later than Monday, March 27, 2023."
Ahead of this week's deadline, those living in the encampment insisted to CTV News Ottawa that living around the Integrated Care Hub is the best for them, because it has access to 24-hour care.
"It makes no sense. We’re already here," explained Nikki Lavigne in an interview. "We need the facilities here, the safe injection site for some people, the mental health, the food."
The city insists people staying in shelter spaces will have a place to store their items and have access to transportation.
"Residents of the encampment will be provided with assistance to secure shelter and support services," the city says, "as well as information about free transportation and safe storage for personal belongings."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.