Housing activists, concerned Kingston residents and a few tenants of an adult group home marched through Uptown Kingston Friday to scold a local realtor and demand action from county officials on an ongoing crisis at the group home.

After decorating the office of the realtor handling the sale of the group home with messages against gentrification, the crowd of about 50 marched to the Ulster County government building on Crown Street.

The group assembled by the Ulster County Coalition For Housing Justice (UCCHJ) to demand the county government use grants and/or federal rescue funds to place the tenants, many of whom live with serious disabilities such as schizophrenia, in proper homes.

Activists said they have asked county leaders multiple times to use federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to ensure the tenants have proper housing.

“Could they spare some of that money to save this home where over 60 people lived, where the county placed people, where people placed people - when they didn’t want to deal with them anymore, they said, ‘Well, there’s no place to go. Go to Chiz’s,’” UCCHJ activist Rashida Tyler said over a megaphone. “Now, when Chiz’s needs help and now that the people are there, there was no money, nothing could be done for them.”

At a meeting a few days prior, a consultant hired by the property owners agreed with the tenants’ attorney that the owners would search for new homes — not motel rooms — for the remaining 10 to 13 tenants.

The two sides also agreed that because finding those homes will be difficult, the tenants may keep living at Chiz’s Heart Street long after the state’s eviction moratorium expires August 31.

“You’re welcome to freely come and go, like always. You’re welcome to have your visitors,” consultant Francesca Ortolano said, trying to reassure a skeptical group of tenants and activists.

“She is going to help you to transition to new housing,” the tenants’ attorney, Peter Frank, said of Francesca. “Until you have new housing, no one is going to be removed from the premises.”

At Friday’s demonstration, protestors said the county should also be active in solving the crisis. County Executive Pat Ryan recently told Spectrum News 1 the tenants will benefit from federal reserve funds.

“[It is] $5 million that I would like to put toward the urgent housing affordability crisis,” Ryan said during a July 20 interview, “including those who currently reside at Chiz’s, who currently need not just a roof over their heads, but with the supports.”

Some activists want to see more urgency.

The home’s director, Sharon ‘Chiz’ Chisholm recently left her position. One of the property’s owners said it was impossible to replace Chisholm.

Several tenants were left without proper services and support, and some have shared in recent interviews that their health is deteriorating.

A housing activist said a meeting Monday between activists and County Executive Ryan went “OK,” and that Ryan will announce a long-term housing plan soon.