Federal, provincial governments spending $3.5M to address homelessness in Saint John, N.B.

The federal and New Brunswick governments are spending $3.5 million to address homelessness in Saint John.

The federal and New Brunswick governments are spending $3.5 million over the next two years to help address and support the homeless population in Saint John

The agreement, unveiled at Saint John City Hall Friday afternoon, has been signed as part of the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative. The money will also go towards the creation of a Community Encampment Response Plan (CERP) and provide immediate support for the city’s unhoused.

“This funding is a lifeline for the Saint John community, offering hope and stability to individuals and families struggling with homelessness,” says Sain John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long. “By providing not just housing, but essential supports, life skills, and access to care, we are helping people rebuild their lives.”

Over the next two years, both the federal and provincial governments will contribute $1.7 million as part of the agreement.

The funding will help support those looking to secure and maintain housing through tailored supports and short-term rental aid. The money will also help supply temporary accommodations and transitional housing and coordinate specialized services like medial care, life skills development, and support for appointments.

“Homelessness is a complex issue, and there isn’t just one department, one level of government that’s going to solve this,” New Brunswick Social Development Minister Cindy Miles told reporters following the announcement. “We’re going to do this together as a community with recognizing that every community has unique needs, and we have to be agile and flexible in our funding to be able to support communities as they identify what their needs are.”

According to the Human Development Council in Saint John, 417 people experienced at least one day of homelessness in January this year. Two-hundred-seventy-two people experience chronic homelessness for at least one day, 31 new individuals were identified as homeless, while 22 residents returned to homelessness in the year’s first month.

Senior director of the Council Greg Bishop says he is excited to see different levels of government work together to help reduce overall homelessness in the Port City.

“It’s called a community plan around encampments, but I really see it as is homeless reduction strategy,” says Bishop. “The city’s been very good to recognize housing as a human right. Whether we see people who are currently in encampments move towards shelter and then towards other forms of housing that they would prefer, or we look at as homeless reduction strategies, we’re very excited to be involved, and we’re very excited to be reporting on the successes of this work.”

Melaine Vautour, executive director of Fresh Start Services, calls the announcement a “transformational change for our community” and is pleased to see all three levels of government teaming up to try to end chronic homelessness in the city.

“Fresh Start is very much in support of housing not homelessness,” Vautour says. “I think really looking at a continuum of housing and how do we move people at their own pace through kind of those tent to shelter, to maybe supported unsheltered to transitional, to supported housing, to independent permanent housing. I think if we start at the beginning and of course, that encampment response ideas, getting people into a safer place while they’re unsheltered and then supporting them to start moving through those other pieces.”

Mayor Donna Reardon says the city will look to guidance from the city’s non-profits who work with the homeless population for best practices when spending/allocating the funding dollars.

She says the city is already making strides at trying to end chronic homelessness, pointing to the recently opened Sommerset ACRES Housing Initiative. She says the money will help support this program and the potential creation of similar ideas.

“This funding is a vital investment in our Housing for All strategy, helping ensure every resident has access to safe, stable and affordable housing,” Reardon says. “Addressing homelessness requires strong partnerships, and we’re committed to continuing to work with our federal and provincial partners to tailor supports that meet the unique needs of Saint John. Together, we are focused on building a stronger, more connected community where everyone has the tools and support to thrive.”

The federal government says more agreements with provinces and territories are expected to be announced in the weeks ahead to help address homelessness across the country.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.