FAQs

The concept of building a sleeping cabin community was initiated at the Belle Park Encampment Summer 2020. Some people felt smaller spaces would help them stay safe, and give them a place to keep their belongings secure while they attend their daily needs. They are simple enough for people transitioning from homelessness to take care of, without over burdening residents with complexities. The cabins being used at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour are 8' x 12', fully insulated and wired with four 20 amp receptacles, an indoor light, an outdoor light, a heater, an air exchanger and tamper proof smoke / co2 detector. Having their own door means residents can come and go on their own schedules, without worrying about disturbing someone who might be on a different schedule.

The cabins for the POH Pilot project were manufactured by EnerDynamic Hybrid Technologies in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and have already proven themselves in northern climate and arctic installations. Our residents will be cozy despite POH's notorious chilly winds.

Album of EHT cabin pictures.

The sleeping cabin community will have shared bathrooms and showers, like in a campground, movie theatre, congregate living centre or your own home. This allows residents to focus on what matters, acquiring permanent housing, without being burdened with the extra responsibilities of maintaining their own bathrooms. Residents at the cabin community will assist keeping the common facilities clean.

Each sleeping cabin is approximately $16,000 plus tax. Additionally, the City of Kingston has provided $115,000 for operation costs, which will mostly cover the budget for having staff onsite 24/7. Portsmouth Olympic Harbour is also receiving some upgrades which will benefit the POH community when the pilot project ends.

Our Livable Solutions has received funding support through the City of Kingston and from the Social Services Reserve Fund. To fund the entire pilot project, $150,000 came from a donation to the City of Kingston from the Vuorinen Estate, and up to $257,000 will be funded from the Social Services Relief Fund Phase 3 from the provincial government. OLS will recieve a maximum of $115,000 to support daily operations.

Residents will be responsible for their own food and cooking their own meals. OLS will help coordinate orders from local food banks and food pantries, and assist with grocery orders. As with what we see in encampments, and in permanent housing, we expect there to be sharing of food and of cooking responsibilities between the residents. OLS staff will be onsite to assist with cooking skills as needed. We hope community members will sometimes assist with special meals and cooking lessons.

EHT's cabins are an energy efficient passive design, it takes very little energy to keep the cabins warm. EHT cabins have been tested in northern and arctic climates. All cabins will have fire safe oil heaters installed.

The POH pilot project ends April 30th, 2022, hopefully by then we'll have found a permanent location for a sleeping cabin community. Either way, OLS will ensure the POH facilities are in good condition and will return all keys to facilities staff. As owner of the sleeping cabins, City of Kingston will determine the best next steps for the sleeping cabins, we hope they will be transported to a permanent location.