Based on coverage from CTV, CBC, and CityNews Halifax.
New Brunswick is taking a significant step to tackle homelessness with a $7.4 million emergency fund aimed at boosting transitional housing projects. This initiative, spearheaded by David Hickey, the minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, is designed to provide immediate support to non-profit housing organizations across the province. The goal? To create more supportive housing units that help people move from the streets to a more stable living situation.
Hickey, who also chairs a ministerial task force on homelessness, emphasized the urgency of the situation. With nearly 1,000 people experiencing chronic homelessness in August alone, including over 500 in Moncton, the need for action is pressing. The task force, established in September, aims to reduce homelessness by 40% by 2029. This funding is one of the first tangible steps toward that goal.
The emergency fund will support community non-profits in developing bridge and supportive housing projects or maintaining at-risk shelters. These are not just temporary shelters but actual living spaces where individuals can have an address and receive 24/7 support. Hickey clarified that the focus is on creating unit-based supportive housing, not just shelter beds. "This is a place where someone will have an address, a place to live, and 24-7 support around them as part of these projects," he explained.
Social Development Minister Cindy Miles highlighted the importance of wraparound services, which will be tailored to meet the unique needs of each community. "These projects are going to look different in every community," she noted, emphasizing the role of community agencies in providing comprehensive support.
The funding is already in motion, with discussions underway with community partners to identify projects that are ready to go but need a financial boost. One such example is the Neighbourly Homes project in Saint John, which has already built a 28-unit "rapidly deployable, courtyard-style housing model" and is looking to expand further with the new funding. Marcel LeBrun, founder of Neighbourly Homes, expressed optimism about the fund's potential to accelerate the pace of construction. "The funding just helps us to execute quickly, find areas that are adequate, but maybe need some investment capital or water and sewer infrastructure," he said.
Leon Baker, Executive Director of Harvest House Atlantic, echoed the sentiment, noting that homelessness is not just about addiction and mental health but also affordability. His organization served nearly 250,000 meals last year at their Moncton shelter. Baker is eager to leverage the new funding for four projects they have in the pipeline. "We need to provide exactly what this announcement is about today. Supportive housing that we can wrap ourselves or tie ourselves to that individual in order to help them move forward," he said.
While the exact number of new housing units that will be created is still uncertain, Hickey assured that the province is committed to working with community organizations to roll out projects as quickly as possible. The aim is to have these transitional units operational for about two to three years, providing a temporary solution while more permanent affordable housing is developed.
In essence, New Brunswick's approach is about empowering local communities to address homelessness in ways that make sense for them, supported by flexible funding that can adapt to different needs. As Hickey put it, "We do not have the solutions for every community in the province on homelessness, but those communities do have the solutions for homelessness in their corner of the province." This initiative represents a collaborative effort to bring those solutions to life, offering hope and stability to those who need it most.
