KINGSTON – The newly remodeled Kingston Motel, formerly the Rodeway Inn, in the Town of Ulster, is now providing emergency housing for nearly 40 families totaling over 125 people.
The county initiative is helping to meet a need for shelter while keeping many children in their school district and avoiding long bus rides that come with out-of-district emergency housing placements.
“I wanted to create a safe and comfortable environment for families in this trying time in their lives, and working with motel owners as well as our county team in social services, health, transit, and the sheriff’s office to implement a plan to improve accommodations, expand access to public transportation and, for the first time, bring social services assistance on site,” said County Executive Jenn Metzger.
The former Rodeway Inn had been a site for emergency housing, but Metzger halted that after receiving notice in April from the state Department of Environmental Conservation that the motel was in violation of its wastewater operating permit. She was also concerned about motel conditions after hearing complaints and making an unannounced visit to the site.
When shelter placement demands grew from 300 to 500 in the summer and early fall, Metzger negotiated improvements by motel owners at their expense with the goal of dedicating the majority of rooms to family placements rather than a mix of individuals and families.
At the Kingston Motel, rooms were remodeled, the parking lot was repaved, a playground set for children was added, and a filtered water bottle-filling station was installed for guests. The motel also made improvements to the wastewater system to bring the system into compliance with state regulators.
Metzger also brought county services to the motel, including office hours with county social services staff, routine sheriff’s patrols, and regular UCAT service.
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