Latest news with #GreaterMonctonHomelessnessSteeringCommittee
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘It's huge news': Moncton shelter receives extra funding for services
Leon Baker is in the Harvest House Atlantic office on High Street in downtown Moncton. (CTV Atlantic/ Derek Haggett) The head of a Moncton homeless shelter was still ecstatic a day after announcing they would continue to provide meals and other services to the community. 'It's huge news,' said Leon Baker, Harvest House Atlantic executive director. 'We received a lot of phone calls from the community. A lot of inquiries from the people that we support and other agencies around that do the work that we do. Everybody was advocating and knew that this was an essential service that we could let go of within the Moncton area.' Harvest House will continue to provide three meals a day and other services like laundry and showers to people who need it thanks to additional funding. Baker said their Community Support Program will start again on July 1 and will run until Dec. 31 of this year. Last week, Baker told CTV News the organization would stop providing meals and services to non-residents of the homeless shelter because they couldn't afford to feed the community. Baker said it was costing around $38,000 a month to provide the extra meals and services, and the plan was to have it phased out by July 1. Harvest House is partnering with the federal and provincial government and, through the support of the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee, will continue providing its program to people not staying at the shelter or their addiction recovery program. The organization has received an additional $156,000 in funding which will get them until the end of the year. The six-month extension of essential services starting in July includes: breakfast, lunch, and supper seven days a week access to sandwiches and water at door laundry and shower services referrals and case management support overdose prevention and response outreach services access to an indoor area during extreme weather conditions Barb Mackenzie Barb Mackenzie looks at her weekly schedule in the pantry of the Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen in Moncton, N.B. (CTV Atlantic / Derek Haggett) Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen manager Barb Mackenzie said they had an extra 20 to 30 guests for lunch this week, because it wasn't available a few blocks away at Harvest House. She said her staff did well handling the extra crowd, but it was a bit of a challenge. 'That's excellent news. It's wonderful. However, it's only until December and who knows what's going to happen after that,' said Mackenzie. 'I'm pleased to hear that and I'm sure all the other kitchens are as well.' Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen A volunteer serves up lunch at the Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen on June 26, 2025. (CTV Atlantic / Derek Haggett) Baker was asked what happens after Dec. 31. 'That's the runway we have,' he said. 'We need now to put together a task team, a task group, a part of the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee, in order to look at food security, community services that we offer. How do we best offer it? Who offers it? What is the most cost-effective way that has the biggest impact on the community?' On Wednesday, Baker made the announcement to staff virtually. 'Lots of applause, lots of smiles, a couple of personal messages from people,' said Baker. 'All around, so much positivity coming out of this.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Significant win': Moncton shelter re-instates community meal program
The kitchen at Harvest House in Moncton, N.B., is pictured. (CTV Atlantic / Derek Haggett) A downtown Moncton shelter will continue to provide three meals a day and other services to the community. Harvest House Atlantic announced its Community Support Program will continue. Running from July 1 and to Dec. 31. On June 17, Harvest House Atlantic executive director Leon Baker told CTV News Atlantic the organization would stop providing meals and services to non-residents of the homeless shelter because they couldn't afford to feed the community as a whole. Harvest House is collaborating with its federal and provincial partners, and through the support of the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee, to continue providing its program to non-shelter residents. In a news release sent Wednesday, Baker said the news was a 'significant win' for the members of the community they serve. 'We're incredibly thankful for the timely support that has come together to make this possible. It's a reminder that when the community works together, meaningful impact follows,' said Baker. The renewed funding will support a six-month extension of essential services that include: • Breakfast, lunch, and supper daily • Access to sandwiches and water at the door 24 hours a day, seven days a week • Laundry and shower services • Referrals and case management support • Overdose prevention and response • Outreach services • Access to an indoor area during extreme weather conditions In the news release, Harvest House said it still has various costs remaining, including food supplements, cleaning supplies, utilities, and outreach materials. Donations can be made by visiting or by calling 506-866-0626. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
