Latest news with #transitionalhousing
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Saint John set to open homes for people who've been living in encampments
Twenty-eight tiny homes in Saint John's first "green zone," built for people now living in encampments, will be open to residents on Friday. The launch of the green zone on Egbert Street, a small side street off Thorne Avenue in east Saint John, has been a "long time coming," Mayor Donna Reardon said Monday. "We've got 28 buildings here we're going to move people into — it's something we've been waiting for, something that we've wanted to do," she said at a news briefing. A second site will open later this year, for a total of 56 tiny homes for people who have been living in encampments. Both sites are near the Atlantic Superstore and the Church of England Cemetery. The 12 Neighbours charity, creator of a similar development in Fredericton, will operate the green zones, which are intended to be transitional housing. The first Saint John site, a community to be called Neighbourly Homes, has two courtyards and 28 individual units. Every unit has a bed, locking doors, heat, lights and internet. Residents will have shared washrooms, laundry, kitchen and multi-purpose facilities. The community will also have some 24-hour-a-day services such as recovery aid for people struggling with addictions. Saint John first announced its plans for the green zones as a part of its Housing for All strategy launched in July 2024. The housing plan followed a public outcry and calls for action on homelessness after a deadly winter for some people living in encampments. The site was made possible through a $3.5 million funding agreement with the provincial and federal governments. "It's all very thoughtful the way it's been put together and it's a great step," Reardon said. "We need the housing, so this is it." A starting point for a growing problem Meanwhile, the city's and the province's homeless population as a whole has grown. The most recent numbers from the Human Development Council, a Saint John-based non-profit, show homelessness in the province grew to 1,529 from 493 between March 2021 and 2025. The group's data dashboard on homelessness shows there were 287 chronically homeless people in Saint John in June. That number was 159 in the same month last year and 142 in June 2023. WATCH | Get a glimpse of Neighbourly Homes: Early this year, the government of Premier Susan Holt pledged to reduce the homelessness population in the province to 621 between by 2029. "Some people said, 'Well, that's not very aggressive — and I say it's absolutely aggressive " said Marcel LeBrun, the founder of 12 Neighbours. "Because the train is going the other way and we're trying to stop the train and move it the [opposite] way. It's a huge challenge to reduce chronic homelessness. But this government's been really committed to it." LeBrun said he hopes the Saint John site and other housing affordability plans approved this year position the province as a leader. "There's no reason we can't actually be a national leader and even an international leader in reducing chronic homelessness," he said "We believe that housing is more than just shelter. It's just the beginning. It's the critical starting point. You need a house to be able to recover, to be able to heal, to be able to move forward. But it's just a starting point." Greg Cutler, the city's community development manager, said the site will have security cameras, foot patrols by Saint John police and vehicle patrols for safety within and surrounding the green zone. The city's Housing for All strategy also includes plans for red zones —- spaces that would prohibit encampments — details for which, Cutler said, are still being ironed out. "Those sites will be a buffer zone around particular spaces like schools, children centre splash pads, that kind of thing — that's what people can expect," he said. Other municipalities in the country has seen push-back, including legal challenges against efforts to tear down encampment sites. Edmonton, for example, saw an unsuccessful lawsuit against that city's efforts to dismantle encampments. Cutler said the green zone strategy in Saint John is an effort to have places for people to relocate once red zones are decided, and the city's lawyer and the province's Social Development Department are involved. "We're cautiously moving forward with that piece," he said.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Residents of Saint John's new transitional housing community to move in this week
A new green zone for the homeless has been given the green light in Saint John, N.B. Residents of a new transitional housing community in Saint John will begin to move in on Friday. The Neighbourly Homes community on Egbert Street features 27 individual sleeping units, as well as shared bathrooms, showers, laundry, and kitchen spaces. Each sleeping unit includes a small desk, a single bed, an electronic tablet, and a locking door which connects to an outside courtyard. A second Neighbourly Homes community will open later this year, nearby on Thorne Avenue. Both sites will also have around-the-clock staffing. The Egbert Street site is the first to operate inside a city designated 'green zone,' defined as municipally owned properties for transitional housing and wrap-around services. 'We wanted to have a site that was on a bus route,' says Saint John mayor Donna Reardon. 'We needed a site where we could bring in water and sewerage. We wanted a site that was accessible for walking, as well.' The project is receiving $3.5 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments. The 'green zone' sites in Saint John are managed by 12 Neighbours. 'We need all kinds of solutions, this is one part of it,' says Marcel LeBrun, president of 12 Neighbours. 'It's low-cost, rapid to deploy, and we can get people housed quickly. But then, we also need to invest in more permanent supportive housing, which is also happening.' 'This is a place where we want people to be on the move,' he adds. 'When you're here, your job is working on yourself, working on the next step.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Saint John set to open homes for people who've been living in encampments
Twenty-eight tiny homes in Saint John's first "green zone," built for people now living in encampments, will be open to residents on Friday. The launch of the green zone on Egbert Street, a small side street off Thorne Avenue in east Saint John, has been a "long time coming," Mayor Donna Reardon said Monday. "We've got 28 buildings here we're going to move people into — it's something we've been waiting for, something that we've wanted to do," she said at a news briefing. A second site will open later this year, for a total of 56 tiny homes for people who have been living in encampments. Both sites are near the Atlantic Superstore and the Church of England Cemetery. The 12 Neighbours charity, creator of a similar development in Fredericton, will operate the green zones, which are intended to be transitional housing. The first Saint John site, a community to be called Neighbourly Homes, has two courtyards and 28 individual units. Every unit has a bed, locking doors, heat, lights and internet. Residents will have shared washrooms, laundry, kitchen and multi-purpose facilities. The community will also have some 24-hour-a-day services such as recovery aid for people struggling with addictions. Saint John first announced its plans for the green zones as a part of its Housing for All strategy launched in July 2024. The housing plan followed a public outcry and calls for action on homelessness after a deadly winter for some people living in encampments. The site was made possible through a $3.5 million funding agreement with the provincial and federal governments. "It's all very thoughtful the way it's been put together and it's a great step," Reardon said. "We need the housing, so this is it." A starting point for a growing problem Meanwhile, the city's and the province's homeless population as a whole has grown. The most recent numbers from the Human Development Council, a Saint John-based non-profit, show homelessness in the province grew to 1,529 from 493 between March 2021 and 2025. The group's data dashboard on homelessness shows there were 287 chronically homeless people in Saint John in June. That number was 159 in the same month last year and 142 in June 2023. WATCH | Get a glimpse of Neighbourly Homes: 12 Neighbours: Saint John edition 2 hours ago Early this year, the government of Premier Susan Holt pledged to reduce the homelessness population in the province to 621 between by 2029. "Some people said, 'Well, that's not very aggressive — and I say it's absolutely aggressive " said Marcel LeBrun, the founder of 12 Neighbours. "Because the train is going the other way and we're trying to stop the train and move it the [opposite] way. It's a huge challenge to reduce chronic homelessness. But this government's been really committed to it." LeBrun said he hopes the Saint John site and other housing affordability plans approved this year position the province as a leader. "There's no reason we can't actually be a national leader and even an international leader in reducing chronic homelessness," he said "We believe that housing is more than just shelter. It's just the beginning. It's the critical starting point. You need a house to be able to recover, to be able to heal, to be able to move forward. But it's just a starting point." Greg Cutler, the city's community development manager, said the site will have security cameras, foot patrols by Saint John police and vehicle patrols for safety within and surrounding the green zone. The city's Housing for All strategy also includes plans for red zones —- spaces that would prohibit encampments — details for which, Cutler said, are still being ironed out. "Those sites will be a buffer zone around particular spaces like schools, children centre splash pads, that kind of thing — that's what people can expect," he said. Other municipalities in the country has seen push-back, including legal challenges against efforts to tear down encampment sites. Edmonton, for example, saw an unsuccessful lawsuit against that city's efforts to dismantle encampments. Cutler said the green zone strategy in Saint John is an effort to have places for people to relocate once red zones are decided, and the city's lawyer and the province's Social Development Department are involved.
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Future of Beverly Motel still unknown after appeal filed against transitional housing project
An organization is working towards opening transitional housing in Edmonton's Beverly neighbourhood. They had planned to open in early July but faced some pushback with their permit. Now they must wait to see if the decision falls in their favour.
CBC
7 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Business association walks back opposition to Beverly Motel transitional housing project
The Beverly Business Association has changed its tune on a transitional housing project the association previously said it would "firmly oppose." The association submitted an appeal against the project's permit, arguing it would "significantly damage" revitalization for 118th Avenue. At the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board on Thursday, a representative said the association board now has faith in the project. Alex Bosker, BBA executive director, said while the association would prefer a commercial space on the lot, under the current circumstances, the transitional housing project is "the best possible option for the Beverly Motel space." Bosker said the association board wanted to send a message about protecting commercial districts from residential projects. "Our board felt the need to carry this appeal … to set a precedent for the next one that may come along to rezone and put in something potentially less organized with real consequences to our community," Bosker said. SDAB officials clarified that the lot is zoned for mixed use, making the project compliant with the zoning. 'I'm genuinely confused,' owner says The Native Counselling Services of Alberta and the landowner said the appeal was an unnecessary drain on public resources. "I'm genuinely confused by the circumstances we find ourselves in here today," Mohamed Ahmed, the owner said. "One must wonder, is this appeal truly about principle or is it just performance?" Blake Jackman, NCSA's director of housing, said the original launch date was scheduled for July 2, and the delays created by the appeal have led to approximately $200,000 in federal and provincial funding being lost. "But beyond dollars and cents, the human cost of this delay is real," Jackman said. "Staff are trained and ready to work. Individuals who could be housed remain without stability in the Beverly community, living in back alleys, storefronts, parks, yards and streets." The project had received 17 letters of support from community members, politicians and local businesses. Another concern brought forward in the written appeal was not being able to collect a business levy from a residential project in the district. But Jackman said this concern was never raised in engagements between NCSA and the BBA — and they have since committed to paying the levy for up to five years. A member of the public, Joshua Goldberg, spoke in favour of the project and said many years ago he was homeless, but now lives and shops in the area. "I've been trying to understand … why on earth anyone would object to this project." Goldberg suggested the BBA withdraw their appeal. "There are other ways to make a point," he said. When given the opportunity to respond, representatives from the BBA had nothing further to add. The SDAB will submit a written decision on the appeal in 15 days.
