Kingston Man Faces Homelessness Again After Fire

Kevin Smith was without a home for nearly six months before he finally found a place at the end of October.

But just a month after moving into an apartment above Suits Nightclub in Kingston, Ont., he opened his door to see black smoke filling the hallway.

“I looked at that and I’m like, ‘OK, this is not someone smoking a cigarette or a joint. This is very serious. I need to get the hell out of this building very quickly,'” he recalled.

“I was thinking I might die here.”

Smith and many others who lived in the Montreal Street apartments were forced out by a fire on Nov. 26 that caused around $500,000 in damage.

No one got hurt, but six people needed rescuing.

The cause of the fire is still unclear, according to Kingston Fire and Rescue.

Smith was taken to the hospital where he received treatment for smoke inhalation.

Six people were rescued from the Nov. 26 fire above Suits Nightclub in Kingston that caused an estimated $500,000 in damage, according to the city’s fire department. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

While some residents have been allowed back into their homes, he and about 18 others from his floor have been told they can’t return.

Just weeks after finally securing housing, Smith is now searching for stable accommodation once more.

“I think I am still in shock, mostly because I hadn’t lived there very long,” he said. “Even though it’s not exactly in perfect condition, it’s better than the street.”

Smith mentioned that his belongings, including his passport, bank card and all of his clothes, were either lost in the fire or remain inside his apartment.

This also means he’s uncertain about what happened to his guitar-an important item for him as a musician who co-wrote a song about homelessness set for release on Dec. 13.

“I’m still hoping to get everything back,” he said. “There might be a small possibility in that.”

Kevin Smith was treated for smoke inhalation after the fire. (Submitted by Kevin Smith)

Pamela Gray, a local advocate and co-founder of Threads of Hope-which provides tents and supplies for those living rough in Kingston-said her organization had been supporting Smith for months.

“The hopelessness that he was feeling … was quite profound,” she explained.

“We do worry about him as a human being able to find the stamina and make it through another process of trying to find housing.”

She stated that Smith and anyone else who lost everything due to the fire are welcome to visit their warehouse to pick out new clothes.

‘I’m hoping for a miracle’

Smith paid $850 monthly rent above Suits-a rate that’s going to be tough to find again in Kingston where average rent is around $2,000 and several hundred people lack stable housing.

“I’m very unsure about everything,” he said.

“Three-and-a-half months is the shortest amount of time it’s ever taken me to find a place.”

The Red Cross covered hotel stays for three days initially while a spokesperson from City Hall mentioned they then provided accommodations at a motel until Wednesday-one week after the incident.


No one was injured in the fire at Suits Nightclub but more than a dozen individuals remain displaced over a week later (Dan Taekema/CBC).

As of Wednesday some displaced residents were moved into emergency shelter In From The Cold but Smith said he’s not allowed there.

He’s currently staying at hotel accommodation in Gananoque along with two puppies named Princess and Shelby.

This Thursday his rent payment for last month was returned which he’s using towards keeping his room-but it only covers another week and half..

“I’m hoping for a miracle between now and Dec. 17,” Smith remarked.

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