Details slow to emerge on Homelessness Prevention Program in Frontenac County

Jeff Green | Mar 04, 2020

Last week, the News received confirmation that the Community and Family Services department of the Kingston Salvation Army have taken over as the service provider for Homelessness Prevention services in Frontenac County.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) for delivery of the service was initiated in September.  Two of the agencies who bid on the service, Home Based Housing (which delivers Homelessness Services in Kingston and began providing interim services in Frontenac County in late July) and Rural Frontenac Community Services (who had partnered with the previous lead provider, Southern Frontenac Community Services) learned their bids had not been successful in the late fall.

That left the Salvation Army, the only other bidder, as the presumed successful candidate. The City of Kingston administers and funds the service in Frontenac County. In January, officials from the City of Kingston said that the announcement was pending.

Last week, the city confirmed that the Salvation Army will be providing the service.

In an email response late last week, Joanne Borris, Housing Program Administrator for the City of Kingston provided the following information.

“The Salvation Army is the service provider chosen for the rural services work, and that they are providing access to the Homelessness Prevention Fund, and Prevention/Diversion and Housing First supports across the county.  They will be working from SFCS [Southern Frontenac Community Services] 2 days per week and meeting clients throughout the community as needed.  They are sourcing space in rural Frontenac and when there is space, we will update individuals about it. The main number for referrals is currently 613-548-4411 and they are working on promotional material.”

Efforts to speak with Bonita McCourt, director of Community and Family Services for the Salvation Army in Kingston have thus far been unsuccessful.