Crossroads Village

There is still much work to be done to make Crossroads Village a reality. Here are some ways you can help, if you have other ideas, please contact OLS:

• Volunteer - Our Crossroads Village Committee needs volunteers to help guide and oversee the building process. We specifically would like to include neighbours of Crossroads United Church, people with lived experience and people with building experience. Email to inquire.

• Ideas - Have some ideas or feedback which may help strengthen OLS or Crossroads Village? Share your ideas here.

• Donate - Charitable donations, to help build Crossroads Village, can be made through the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area.

The proposed location for Crossroads Village is on an underused lot behind Crossroads United Church, at 690 Sir John A Boulevard.

We would like the community, especially people with lived and living experience, to be included in the design of Crossroads Village. To begin the process, we have a draft plot plan for 18 cabins and a draft design for a common building with shared facilities. We have to consider the following constraints:

• Maximum 18 cabins and one common building with shared facilities.

• No foundations or permanent structures - all signs of Crossroads Village must be removed at the end of our lease.

• Accessible access as much as possible.

• Safety and security risk mitigation through smart design.

Share your ideas here.

This form is used for agency or self referrals to Crossroads Village. Potential residents must be currently experiencing homelessness within the City of Kingston and have an interest in attaining permanent housing. Crossroads Village will be opening in September of 2024. All referrals will be held until Crossroads Village is open. We are resetting our waitlist, so if you have applied to the sleeping cabins previously, please reapply.

Crossroads Village Referral Form 

Crossroads Village – a new chapter in the ministry of Crossroads

What is being proposed?

That Crossroads United Church enter into negotiations for an agreement with Our Livable Solutions (OLS) for the rental of half (approx. 0.4A) of the unpaved parking lot at the west side of the church and an associated utility right-of-way for 10 years at the nominal rate of $1 per year for the purpose of accommodating up to 18 sleeping cabins and associated service structures, subject to successful negotiations.

Why?

Matthew 25:35 “I was hungry and you clothed me; thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me into your homes”.

James 2: 10 “What good is there in your saying to them “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!” if you don’t give them the necessities of life? So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.

What is Our Livable Solutions (OLS)?

OLS is a local non-profit organization actively pursuing community solutions that aim at ending homelessness in Kingston. It is currently pursuing charitable status, but in the meantime, it has an arrangement with the Kingston Community Foundation to receive tax-receipted charitable donations. OLS staff and volunteers interview and maintain a waiting list for the cabins, process the rental agreements of the residents, and offer a variety of onsite services to residents (including employment counselling, assistance with government paperwork, security, arranging health referrals, and coordinating a dental health program.)  Chrystal Wilson is the Executive Director.

Where would the Village be located?

The picture above is one possibility, but the fencing to the top (N) and left (W) sides is helpful. White rectangles are cabins. The white parking lines (not currently in place) indicate overflow parking (for about 40 cars) for the church. Snow can also be dumped there in the winter, although in a smaller area than is currently available. The line at the top is where utilities could run to a Utilities Kingston connection on the street.

The cabins would not be moved to Crossroads until the fall.

What are sleeping cabins?

Sleeping cabins are 8’ x 12’ structures (less than the legal definition of a building) equipped with electricity (including lighting & heating/cooling) smoke detectors and lockable steel doors. Currently there are 17 of these that the City of Kingston has offered to sell to OLS for $1 if an agreement for where to place them is reached before July 1, 2024. More than half the original cost was from private donations. Basic furniture (especially beds) and bar fridges are generally provided. There are no washrooms, showers or laundry in cabins, which instead (along with kitchen facilities) are located in a separate service module (to which residents have keys). This keeps housing costs low and encourages cooperation among residents.

Residents pay rent to stay in the cabins. Those on social assistance pay their shelter allowance (eg. $390/mo from Ontario Works); otherwise up to 30% of their monthly income. Residents are responsible for their own food and cooking. OLS helps coordinate orders from local food banks and food pantries and are onsite to assist with cooking skills as needed. Cabin community residents assist in keeping the common facilities clean (including snow removal in the winter).

Is this an encampment?

No. Tents or similar structures will not be allowed. This is not day-to-day shelter. Only individuals who are interviewed, accepted and have signed a 13-page rental and behaviour document can live at the Village. Violation of the conditions of their rental agreement would mean termination of the right to live in the Village and the resident would be removed. Cabin residents are no longer homeless – their cabin is their home.

Isn’t there somewhere else to put the cabins?

Not right now. In November of 2023, Kingston city council voted against locating the cabins at either of two locations that city staff had suggested, and stipulated that the cabins could not be located on city-owned land. There has been an offer of private land in South Frontenac township, but it would be 30 minutes out of the city and would cost $4 million. That makes it difficult for volunteers to get to the site, for residents to get to medical appointments, and siphon away money desperately needed for services for the residents.

How long do residents stay?

Weeks or months, depending on the needs of the resident. There is currently a limit of 364 days for living in the cabin community. The object is to find a more permanent place in the community for each resident, but this takes time.

What are the financial obligations to Crossroads?

Very limited. OLS pays for the purchase of the service module, the utility corridor to the street, repairs and upkeep of the module, cabins and grounds, and utility costs. OLS also hires the staff necessary for the running of the Village and provision of services to residents. Crossroads requires renters of church space to carry liability insurance (typically $1 million); OLS carries $5 million in liability insurance for the cabins. Regular renters of the church building can add to church costs (washrooms maintained more often; floors swept more often; more wear-and tear on walls and doors; the driveway needs repair more often, etc). Village residents would not have any right to access the church building, and do not have cars, which would minimize such extra maintenance costs.

Would this arrangement be permanent?

No. The agreement is for a rental, not a purchase. The suggestion is for 10 years (although renewable terms of 5 years might work). Why so long? The cabins have been moved twice a year so far, and this expense comes out of OLS operating funds, so there is less funding for programs for residents.  Moving to an entirely new location requires additional planning and costs. And the chaos of moving is hard on the psychological health of the residents – something which already makes it more difficult for them to integrate into the rest of society. If OLS and the church cannot reach a continuation agreement at the end of the lease, the Village would have to be removed at OLS expense.  There would be no structures with foundations that would have to be removed.

What if there’s violence or people put up tents?

This already occurs from time to time at Crossroads, and it takes staff and volunteer time to deal with. OLS would have staff on site to handle such situations in the Village, and can help even if situations arise on church property beyond the Village, if the church gives them permission to do so. Residents of the Village want to feel safe, and removing intruders and abusive residents is to the benefit of the whole community.

What rules must residents follow?

Overnight stays by guests are not allowed, but pets may be kept, subject to OLS approval and dependent on the ability of the resident to care for the pet and ensure that the pet does not have an adverse affect on the community. Violence (physical or emotional) is not tolerated and is grounds for terminating the rental agreement and removing the resident. 

However, as renters, residents have rights. Residents can lock their doors. Written notice (24 hour) must be given before staff can enter for an inspection or repairs (unless in the case of emergency), although wellness checks (where the resident hasn’t been seen for an extended time) may allow staff to enter the cabin. Residents can come and go as they please, as would any apartment dweller. This is unlike shelters, where occupants must vacate and take their belongings with them during the day. Although smoking or vaping in the cabins or common facilities is not allowed, what residents do or keep in their cabin is up to them, as long as it is not a health hazard; the item is legal; and it is not in quantities that could be used for trafficking.

What about zoning restrictions?

Currently, the Crossroads property is zoned URM4, which is a multi-residential zoning that allows for most buildings from duplexes to multi-storey buildings. Often when an owner wants a new use for a property, the city can veto the request, even if the zoning allows it. An application for a zoning modification generally includes one or more public meetings, but this would be a wise step to take out of respect to our neighbours, even if it weren’t required.

Finally, this approval in principle doesn’t guarantee that the proposal will go through. Rental negotiations may reach an impasse. The City may not approve a new land use. But if either of these happen, we will still be seen in the community as a congregation that seeks to be true to its faith, even if it has been prevented from doing so. And that just might make seekers more likely to join us.

Crossroads Village

• is social justice at a level that Crossroads can handle (in volunteer time or financial outlay)

• elevates Crossroads’ visibility in the community and shows us as a Christian community that lives out its faith.

• involves minimal expense to Crossroads.

• makes use of church resources that are currently unused or greatly underused.

• is the right thing to do.

Crossroads Village estimated operating budget is $500,000 annually.  $27,777 annually per resident or $76 per night.

 A breakdown of the budget can be found here.

Comparison to other initiatives:

Hamilton - $3.9 million annually for 80 people (2 per cabin) - $48,750 per cabin annually or $133.56 per night.

Chatham-Kent - $2.2 million annually for 50 cabins - $44,000 per cabin annually or $120.55 per night.

Peterborough - $1.9 million annually for 50 cabins - $38,000 per cabin annually or $104 per night.

Brockville - $1.2 million for 24 cabins - $50,999 per cabin annually or $139 per night.

Toronto Shelter Beds - $80,000 per bed annually, $219 per night

June 6th, 2024 - Crossroads Village potential site announced to the public.

June 12th, 2024 - Fundraising Concert held at Crossroads United Church which raised $2417.55!

June 17th, 2024 - Pre-application for Crossroads Village submitted to the City of Kingston. D00-096-2024 on Dash.

June 26th, 2024 - Public Meeting at Crossroads United Church (690 Sir John A Blvd) at 7pm. Recording available here.

June 27th, 2024 - Pre-application Client Meeting with the City of Kingston.

July 1st, 2024 - Deadline for OLS to present a proposal for Crossroads Village to the City of Kingston, as part of City Council's directed 'wind down' directives.

July 9th, 2024 - City Council endorses Crossroads Village!

September 7th, 2024 - Crossroads United Church's lease with OLS approved by the Regional United Church Council.

September 18th, 2024 - Crossroads Village Development place on hold due to lack of operating funds.

September 30th, 2024 - Council directed end date for the Sleeping Cabin Pilot Project.

June 6th, 2024 - Cabins at the Crossroads

July 4th, 2024 - Crossroads United steps up to save Kingston’s sleeping cabin program

July 12th, 2024 - Organizer, community support offer sleeping cabin project a new lease on life

Sept 18th, 2024 - Crossroads development on hold