How we’re responding to COVID-19
April 23rd, 2020
We know this is a stressful time for everyone and we are committed to continue helping youth and families during this pandemic. We have a few updates to our services.
The Kingston Youth Shelter has temporarily relocated to 113 Lower Union Street. If you are in immediate need of housing, please contact our emergency shelter via phone at 613-549-4236 or via email at transitions@kingstonyouthshelter.com. This new location allows residents have their own rooms to practice physical distancing.
Our Family Mediation Worker and Prevention Diversion Worker are working from home. They continue to provide support to families and youth via video conference, phone, text, and email. For their safety and yours, they are unable to meet with clients face-to-face until further notice.
If you are experiencing family conflict or difficulties at home, please contact our Family Mediation Worker, Vivienne. You can call or text them at 613-449-4803 or send them an email at families@kingstonyouthshelter.com.
If you are seeking housing assistance, facing eviction, or you need help navigating mental health/addictions support, please contact our Prevention Diversion Worker, Mitchell. You can call or text him at 613-449-2056 or send him an email at mitchell@kingstonyouthshelter.com.
For more information about our programs, please visit https://kingstonyouthshelter.com/programs. You do not need to be a resident at our emergency shelter to qualify for our support.
We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the United Way KFL&A and the City of Kingston for all their support. We will get through this together, Kingston!
March 23rd, 2020
We are a critical services and we are doing everything we can to remain open through the COVID-19 pandemic. As an agency, we have taken immediate steps to reduce the risk of transmission within our emergency shelter and transition homes:
- We have increased the frequency of our cleaning schedule at all three locations
- We are promoting proper hygiene for all staff and residents, including frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer use
- We are encouraging staff and youth to communicate via telephone, email, and video conferencing when possible
- We have moved our emergency shelter to 113 Lower Union Street, which provides residents with individual rooms so they can practice social distancing
- We are consulting with the City of Kingston to secure a location where homeless or precariously housed youth can self-isolate if they are ill or have symptoms of COVID-19
- We are asking staff to work from home if they are able to work remotely. We recognize this is not possible for all our staff and we are grateful to those who continue to come to work and provide assistance to vulnerable youth
We will continue to post updates to our social media and website as the situation with COVID-19 evolves. Thank you to the City of Kingston, the United Way of KFL&A, and the KFL&A Public Health Unit for all their help.