As temperatures begin to rise in eastern Ontario, many people are leaving their homes and enjoying the outdoors.

This is also the case for the homeless population in Kingston, Ont., as many tell Global News they have left the shelter system to pitch a tent in city parks.

“The nights aren’t so bad now, and more people are coming here,” said Nathan Rosevear, who has been living in Belle Park for nearly a month.

According to Rosevear, the homeless encampment grew from a dozen or so people in early May to more than 40, something he attributes to the warm weather.

The Belle Park homeless camp isn’t alone. Others have sprung up around the city, although much smaller, at City Hall and in the barns at the Memorial Centre.

On Wednesday, Global News was given a tour of the barn encampment by Richard Hewitt, a Toronto native who has been homeless in Kingston for nine years.

“I spend the colder months in motels but recently set up here,” said Hewitt.

“I’ve been here for 11 weeks now.”

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Recently, Hewitt says the City of Kingston handed him, and the two other people living in the Memorial Centre barns, a letter, telling them to leave and take all of their belongings by 11 am Wednesday morning.

“They’re not kicking us out yet,” said Hewitt.

As of late afternoon, there was no sight of bylaw enforcement.

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