Upgraded Kingston Motel Continues to Help Families in Need

A once rundown motel in Ulster County, NY now provides upgraded shelter for over 100 people.

One thing elected officials in Ulster County attempted to do in 2023 was to make sure that any family in need of housing within the county was given a safe place to stay.

That mission wasn't an easy one but according to Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, numerous families have been able to take advantage of the upgrades at one motel in the Town of Ulster.

Kingston, New York Motel Housing Families

The Kingston Motel, at 239 Forest Hill Drive in the Town of Ulster, has been the place 40 families have secured safe housing since October according to Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger.

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Metzger said that the newly remodeled Kingston Motel is "helping the County meet a significant need while also keeping many children within their school district and avoiding the long bus rides that come with out-of-district emergency housing placements."

Ulster County Housing Initiative

The county-wide initiative, which also brings services and assistance to the Kingston Motel, was launched on October 23rd and has to date provided shelter to over 125 people.

Metzger shared her satisfaction with the progress of the initiative saying,

"I wanted to create a safe and comfortable environment for families in this trying time in their lives, and worked 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."

 

Bad Hotel Conditions Improved at Kingston Motel

The Kingston Motel, formally the Rodeway Inn had for years been a site for emergency housing placements of both individuals and families, but back in April Metzger stopped all placements at the motel after she received a notice from the NYS DEC that the motel violated its wastewater operating permit. She was also concerned about the motel's conditions after hearing complaints and making her unannounced visit to the site.

Over the next few months, Metzger negotiated numerous improvements by motel owners including remodeling rooms...

Resurfacing and restriping the parking lot...

A new playground set for children...

The motel also added a filtered water bottle-refilling station for guests. All of the upgrades were done at the owner's expense. The motel also made improvements to the wastewater system to bring the system into compliance with state regulations.

SEE ALSO: Kingston School Gets Creative With Cereal Boxes for Great Cause

The initiative also allowed Metzger to develop a plan with County departments to bring services on-site to the motel including "office hours" by County social services staff, routine patrols by the Sheriff's Office, and regular UCAT bus service.

Since the emergency housing placements restarted in October, UCAT has transported a total of 688 passengers from the Kingston Motel, enabling parents and families to get to work, stores, and appointments and meet other essential needs according to the County's website.