OLIVIA TIMM

Kate’s Rest is a residence for the homeless on Big Island, founded by Brian Hart 15 years ago. Mr. Hart told Council last week that the shared housing model has been studied by researchers at both Queen’s and Western universities and has been found “praise worthy.”

“It provides greater health benefits and promotes a greater sense of belonging for the residents  compared to other models that house homeless persons,” said Mr. Hart. 

Dr. Keri Marshall said in a letter to Council that Kate’s Rest is a “diamond in the rough.” Its housing model could be replicated in other rural contexts.

“I hope this letter will help your town council to recognize the value of Kate’s Rest and the unique contribution it can make to your community. I advise that you consider what Kate’s Rest and other such models might offer to address this issue without forcing individuals who are living in poverty in your community to move to urban centres in search of housing and support.”

“Kate’s Rest is an example of an approach that is working….[It] may offer an opportunity for Prince Edward County to address the issue of homelesssness locally.”

Parliamentary Secretary Adam Vaughan and local member of parliament Neil Ellis commended the residence for its “social enterprise to design, build and operate an aquaponics farm,” said Mr. Hart. 

The farm grows hybrid poplar trees to sell to 8 Wing Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton to help the base meet its carbon emissions reduction target, he continued. 

Recently, he said, CFB Trenton requested that Kate’s Rest enter a memorandum of understanding that would see a broader application of the aquaponics farming and carbon capture activity. The shared enterprise would have the assistance of engineers from the University of Ottawa, who are collaborating with Kate’s Rest. 

Conrad Guziewicz, a local developer and business entrepreneur, spoke in support of the activities at Kate’s Rest, noting that he was invited to visit the residence last year. 

He said at that point in time, he had not done any social entrepreneur work, so simply went to observe the “goodness” that was taking place. 

“I learned that in rural Canada, we have a homeless issue. In our community, we have a homeless issue. What Father Brian Hart has done is something, to me, that is so amazing. He’s invited 19 people who were homeless to live with him and he’s done it in the charity of his own pension, on his own property,” Guziewicz said.

“Realize the savings that a community like ours gets by having a facility like this. It was pointed out to us by Adam Vaughan that 20 per cent of the homeless people create about 40 per cent of the  budget to police them, hospitalize them and so on.”

He said he hopes to replicate the facility in other rural communities. 

“It gives me great joy to see these people who would be living on the street, now with homes and prospering,” he said. 

The Kate’s Rest Foundation was established as a not-for-profit in 2020, and is on its way to becoming a registered charity, said Ryan Brough, Foundation Chairperson.

“Moving forward as a Foundation will make sure that Kate’s Rest and its services will help the County and be provided to the County as they have been for the last 15 years,” he said.

In the last eight months and with help from the board and local community volunteers, a great deal of work has been completed on the property. The foundation has signed a contribution agreement with PELASS for a forgivable loan which will go toward a new septic system.