Late in the 1970’s, four Kingston women got together to discuss the idea of a low-cost community house in downtown Kingston — a place where grassroots organizations, families, and community groups could gather, prepare and share food, learn new skills, and encourage lively discussion.

On March 23, 1981, they registered as a not-for-profit corporation and purchased a three-story brick house located at 99 York Street. They donated the house to the community and proposed that its operations be governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. In May 1983, The Kingston Community House for Self-Reliance (or “99 York”) officially opened.

Since then, the Kingston Community House for Self-Reliance has rented affordable office spaces to community groups and provided inexpensive meeting spaces to hundreds of people. 

The board is committed to providing safe and welcoming spaces to meet the changing needs of our neighbourhood. It’s a comfortable place with a big living room, a boardroom, an outdoor space for children, and a modern, fully equipped kitchen.