Small sleeping cabins hope to solve big problems in Kingston, Ont.
A new project to put those experiencing homelessness in sleeping cabins is finding success in its first few months in Kingston, Ont.
Barry Shea is one of those who use the cabins. After a decade of sleeping on the street, he says he’s happy to have the four walls.
“It’s not much, but it’s home,” he says while giving CTV News Ottawa a tour. "You’re safe, you’re dry, you’re not cold…It’s a place I can call home. Which I haven’t had."
The 10 cabins have been set up outside an arena west of Kingston’s downtown for the summer. The project by Our Livable Solutions is meant to be a transition, and a step towards finding a permanent place to live.
Shea says he feels he has stability.
"I’ve got a nurse coming in, I’ve got a worker, I’ve got an occupational therapist, everything I need to survive," he says.
Executive Director Chrystal Wilson says that’s the goal.
"While they’re with us they’ll work on life skills, get connected to different services agencies, depending on their needs and work towards independence."
Kingston council approved the cabins in response to the growing problem of homelessness, and says a study shows it’s less expensive than playing for people to stay in hotels.
It was created with the help of Ontario government funding for social services and private donations.
The arena location was chosen to host the cabins in the summer because it has a kitchen, washroom and community spaces. In the six months the project has been running, Wilson says 14 people have used the cabins, and at least one person has found a job.
"We have somebody moving out today and actually we should see a transition of three to four people this month," she explains. "We’re expecting to see a big turn over of our residents this month."
Wilson says other cities have reached out to learn more about the project.
Shea says the biggest thing for him is the sense of community he gets here.
"I get along with everyone here, they all look out for me, I care about every one of them here," he says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.