Please accept this petition on behalf of the Kingston Interfaith Women’s group, regarding the sleeping cabins currently in use at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. We are grateful for the initial support of the cabins from Kingston City Council. Our goal in writing this petition is to advocate for continued support from the Kingston community, and specifically to strongly encourage City Council to continue to support the sleeping cabins in the future.

Together with many other groups that were instrumental in furnishing the cabins, we have followed the processes in place in the daily running of the cabins. We believe this is a very successful venture for all involved, including the greater Kingston community. Many people who were initially skeptical of this project have been pleasantly surprised by the positive outcome and are now supportive of this initiative.

We understand that Homelessness remains a complicated and daunting problem for many cities in Canada. However, as the time draws near for the pilot to end, our understanding is that City Council has not given any indication whether the project will be allowed to continue.

We implore City Council to continue their financial assistance of this project and grant permission for the sleeping cabins to move to another appropriate location, in the city, which would house more people.

As you well know, homelessness does not just affect the unhoused:  it affects our whole community. It is incumbent upon us as a proud and caring community, to take care of the most vulnerable and support them in a way, that optimally will see them transition to independent living. We see the sleeping cabin project as a necessary FIRST step in making this a reality.

Many thanks to you and City Council for your support of the sleeping cabins initiative!

Sincerely

Kingston Interfaith Women’s Group