Kingston volunteers replace tents after tornado hits Belle Park encampment

Volunteers replaced damaged tents and essential supplies at Kingston’s Belle Park after a tornado swept through eastern Ontario, leaving members of the city’s unhoused community without shelter and belongings. People living in encampments at Belle Park were among those affected by the storm, which also caused damage in Sydenham, Harrowsmith and Kingston’s Rideau Heights neighbourhood. [...]

Volunteers replaced damaged tents and essential supplies at Kingston’s Belle Park after a tornado swept through eastern Ontario, leaving members of the city’s unhoused community without shelter and belongings. People living in encampments at Belle Park were among those affected by the storm, which also caused damage in Sydenham, Harrowsmith and Kingston’s Rideau Heights neighbourhood. Local advocate and Threads of Hope co-founder Pam Gray rallied the community to replace damaged items via Facebook.

“We lost, I think, it was between three and six tents, but those tents were replaced right away from our inventory,” said Gray. Belle Park has served as a location for unhoused people in Kingston to set up shelter. Gray has worked with Kingston’s unhoused community for more than 5 years and shared her experience in an interview with YGK News.

“The city doesn’t help at all ... The city would send in Public Works if necessary, and their very small outreach teams.” Gray explained that local advocates sent service requests to Public Works, but is unsure if those requests were completed.

“As far as replacing what they lost that day, that would only be our group’s,” Gray continued. YGK News requested a comment from Public Works in Kingston about the tornado cleanup in Belle Park but has not heard back. Gray commended the city’s outreach workers for their help in the community but implied that local volunteers have to fill in the gaps for a small number of outreach workers.

“We have a hundred volunteers looking out for the homeless in this city; the city has six outreach workers for the entire city,” said Gray. Feed the People organizer Michelle Schwarz was volunteering and handing out food in Belle Park when the storm hit. “It was indeed traumatizing for many,” said Schwarz.

“We were holding down the frame of the carport so the wind wouldn’t sweep it away.” Schwarz continued. Feed the People serves meals to the unhoused community from a carport in Belle Park with the help of local volunteers.

The City of Kingston has reached out to local advocates and Public Works to assist with the effects of the storm. City councillor Gregory Ridge said in a statement to YGK News what he was doing to ensure the safety of residents in his district. “With most high-risk situations now resolved, crews will continue working to ensure all storm-related debris is cleared.

I have also heard from advocates for those living in Belle Park. To ensure these concerns are promptly addressed, I’ve connected them with the hard-working Public Works and Housing and Homelessness teams,” said Coun. Ridge City staff anticipates that all storm-related damage will be cleaned up by the end of this week.