Social Planning Council of Kingston

A not-for-profit organisation & registered charity

Recent Activity

Our Latest Flyer: Kingston Rents Going Up Fast - Some Key Facts

Prepared by Patricia Streich with the Social Planning Council of Kingston & District - March 2024

KINGSTON RENTS GOING UP FAST_Final Flyer_March-06-2024.pdf

Slides from our November 24th webinar "Kingston Tenants' Experiences in our Housing Market - What We Heard": 

as presented by Dylyn Reid-Davies

Kingston Report Final PPT .pdf

JUST RELEASED: Many Faces of Urban And Rural Displacement Project: Kingston Report

Kingston Report 2023 10 05.pdf, FINAL, OCTOBER 5, 2023.pdf

 

"The Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) has partnered with the University of Waterloo and four regional social planning councils (Kingston and District, Oxford County, York Region, and Cornwall and Area) to understand more about tenant eviction and displacement in communities across Ontario.


Through detailed studies of each region and its tenants’ experiences, we found that despite different built forms, demographics, local economies, population densities, and vacancy rates, tenants across Ontario had a shared experience of displacement. Tenants explained how tactics were used to push them out, and discussed the lasting impact of displacement and the necessity of change." Read the report here


 A recent article published by the Kingston Whig Standard:

Whig 2023 11 17 displacement pdf.pdf

SPCK&D Statement on Encampment Evictions

The Social Planning Council of Kingston & District supports calls from advocates across Kingston to halt encampment evictions.

 

It is essential that we come together as a community to address rising rates of homelessness with compassion, empathy, and a focus on lasting solutions. Without alternative shelter options that adequately addresses the needs of encampment residents, evictions will exacerbate the challenges they face of everyday survival. 

 

In the SPCK&D’s most recent study on rental housing eviction, Kingston tenants shared their experiences of struggling to find a new home after being forced to leave due to no fault of their own. Both tenants who were housed and unhoused expressed concern over the treatment of encampment residents. Tenants recommended halting encampment evictions and providing a wider range of low-barrier shelter options to address tenants diverse needs. We advance this recommendation in our final study report “Many Faces of Urban and Rural Displacement: Kingston Report.”

 

The SPCK&D has committed to working with the community to promote housing alternatives for all Kingston residents and, supporting local groups that serve people in the greatest need. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every member of our community has a safe and dignified place to live. We urge local authorities to continue to work collaboratively with non-profit organizations, the public, and our unhoused neighbours to find humane and sustainable solutions.

 

For inquiries, please contact the SPCK&D at spckingston00@gmail.com

 

About the Social Planning Council of Kingston & District (SPCK&D)

 

The SPCK&D is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization and registered charity, which has operated in Kingston since 1930. The SPCK&D provides leadership to identify unmet social needs in our community, offering resources to better understand unmet needs, and empowering others to work collaboratively with us to develop solutions. The SPCK&D facilitates, coordinates, and advocates for positive change, while bridging the worlds of community members, academics, policy makers, and frontline service providers across all sectors. 


UPCOMING EVENT: Developmental Services Housing Forum - November 28, 2023

FREE online event - open to the public - Click here to register!

DS Housing Forum 2023 - Save the Date.pdf

Submission to the National Housing Council: Impacts of Financialization on Local Housing Markets & Housing Affordability 

Submission on Financialization 2023-06-22.pdf

Read it here: An Assessment of Ontario Public Opinion Regarding Bill 23 (the More Homes Built Faster Act) and Related Measures Affecting the Greenbelt and Affordable Housing

An Assessment of Ontario Public Opinion regarding Bill 23 and Related Measures Affecting the Greenbelt and Housing.pdf

RECENT EVENTS: 

April 22, 2023 - Peer Legal Advocacy Workshop

Kingston tenants came to our FREE workshop on eviction prevention, April 22, 2-4 PM at Kingston Frontenac Public Library. The Peer Legal Advocacy Workshop (facilitated by Dylyn and Aimee) walked tenants through common types of evictions and how to prevent them, navigating the Landlord Tenant Board, accessing Kingston-specific resources, and how to advocate for your rights and others. 

May 10, 2023 - Tenant Community Meeting

Kingston tenants and advocates joined the SPCK&D for food, drinks, and discussion at Extend-A-Family (361 Montreal St.) on May 10 6:00-8:00P. Tenants shared experiences and knowledge, developed collective strategies for preventing displacement, and explored ways to support each other through difficult times. 

March 2023 Webinar: Rental Market Trends & Challenges for Affordable Places to Call Home

Check out the slides from our March 2023 Webinar on our Webinars page!

Summer 2022 Report Series

Check out our Recent Reports section to see what we've been up to! 

Beyond Sleeping Cabins - Rights to Housing

A letter to the City of Kingston & the community from the Social Planning Council of Kingston & District

See our associated article in the Kingstonist

Open Letter on Cabins _FINAL.pdf

SPCK&D Community Newsletter Issue 2 - May 6, 2022

To better inform the community of recent social planning matters, the SPCK&D has launched a monthly newsletter with links to articles and upcoming SPCK&D events. Please find the most recent monthly newsletter provided below.

SPC - Newsletter (May 2022).pdf

For those who missed our April 21st, 2022 Webinar "Housing Alternatives for Seniors: Aging in Community", check out the following presentation slides!

Reforming Support for Elders and People with Disabilities as they Age presented by Peter Clutterbuck and Doug Cartan from Seniors For Social Action (SSAO)  

SSAO Community Presentation.pdf
20CHAC001_PeriodicTableDoc_Final (2).pdf

Fostering Healthy Aging in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Study presented by representatives of OASIS

Oasis Research Summary CHIR 2021-2025.pdf

Please also find attached The Periodic Table of Housing Models for Aging Canadians report by SE Health & SE Futures Group.

Interested in learning more about Kingston's Third Sector Housing? Consider reading the following SPCK&D Report from October 2021

Profile of Kingston's Third Sector Housing.pdf
Profile of Kingston's Third Sector Housing - Housing Forum Presentation 2021 (1).pptx

For those who missed our June 1st, 2021 Webinar "Are Tiny Homes a Solution For Affordable Housing", check out the following presentation slides!

Tiny Homes For Affordable Housing presented by Patricia Streich

June 1, 2021 Tiny Homes Webinar June 1st_2021 Patricia Streich.pdf

Tiny Home Villages:  A Solution to Homelessness? presented by Kevin Beauchamp

Homes for Heroes powerpoint (draft for presentation).pdf

The Poverty Challenge Kingston Newsletter

In 2021, the SPCK sponsored the Poverty Challenge.  The Poverty Challenge is an experiential event to educate individuals on the challenges of living in urban poverty. Check out the Newsletter for the Challenge Toolkits, free online resources which will guide groups as they replicate two kinds of events. 


"We hope other communities or agencies will look into this client-focused approach, and recognize the potential of wraparound programming to help individuals move forward in life, and address many of the challenges caused by their poverty." - The Poverty Challenge

TPC Newsletter.pdf