A new ministerial task force has announced $7.4 million in emergency funding to establish a conditional grant program for non-profit housing providers so it can support people experiencing homelessness.
It is a partnership between the New Brunswick Housing Corporation (NBHC) and the Department of Social Development (DSD) to establish the Supportive Housing Emergency Grant.
David Hickey, the minister responsible for the NBHC, said the money is not for shelters.
The task force is a ministerial one, which includes Hickey, Social Development Minister Cindy Miles, Justice Minister Rob McKee – who is also responsible for addictions and mental health – Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin and Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy.
“The main project that we would be looking at for scope on this is Somerset Acres in Saint John,” Hickey said, speaking with a group of reporters. “So, think of supported, transitional housing, in the emergency term in order to get more units in communities faster.”
Somerset Acres is temporary supportive housing located in the north-end of Saint John. It is modular trailers that have been retrofitted into housing for people facing various levels of homelessness. It aims to help these individuals build tenancy and community skills, access safe and secure housing, and for those who are able, transition to independent, scattered housing.
Hickey said it is targeting projects that are “in the wings and ready to go,” adding the money would be available to all communities in New Brunswick.
Read more: St. Stephen homeless shelter sparks talks about wider impact
“We think we can stretch these dollars more,” he said. “The money is ready and our team is already working with proponents in the community and we’ll announce each project as they come about.”
Hickey said he believes smaller communities like St. Stephen and Bathurst do have the capacity through the non-profits assisting the unhoused to respond to the province’s request for proposals (RFP).
He said it is clear the government needs to respond faster, but said it will be leaning on the community to set the projects up. Hickey couldn’t say what projects would receive funding before the winter season – only that a “few” had been identified.
“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 said.
The Holt government has committed to a reduction of 40 per cent in those experiencing homelessness by 2029.
Hickey was also asked about two conflicts he could face as part of this emergency fund, including his long-term lease with Fresh Start – an organization in Saint John that helps the unhoused and his aunt Kit Hickey’s low-income housing organization Housing Alternatives.
He confirmed he would recuse himself if any decisions needed to be made in relation to his aunt’s organization, and had his holdings and long-term lease with Fresh Start reviewed by New Brunswick’s Integrity Commissioner Charles Murray.
“So, think of supported, transitional housing, in the emergency term in order to get more units in communities faster.” – David Hickey, Minister responsible for NBHC
It remains unclear what projects have already been identified by the department, whether any money has already been allocated, and when future announcements might be made.
It comes just five weeks after the task force was announced by the Liberal government and just less than a week after Hickey told The Courier the government understands the status quo is “unacceptable.”
Residents in St. Stephen have raised concerns about ongoing issues with a shelter on 9 Main Street – including incidents of violence, drug use and loitering.
“The hope is to try and do things a little differently from the way that they’ve been done before, so that there is community buy-in and so that we can build clarity on this, so that people can see an impact in the communities that have been dealing with visible homelessness in ways we’ve never seen before,” Hickey said, speaking specifically about the situation in St. Stephen in a previous interview.
He added the government needs to be nimble enough to respond if things in St. Stephen aren’t working.
St. Stephen Mayor Allan MacEachern said he is encouraged by the funding.
“I’m looking forward to [seeing] how it can work in relation to issues in our community,” he said, speaking with The Courier. “It’s going to take some sit down meetings with [our] Future St. Stephen board, the council, and find out where this money fits.”
MacEachern said he doesn’t know yet whether there is a shovel ready idea for St. Stephen, but knows this money could really help the community.
“There [are] a lot of pieces for this and it will touch a lot of lives no matter what we do,” he said.
