By Andrew Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Neighbours of an emergency shelter in St. Stephen are asking a judge to overturn a council vote and order the facility’s removal. The lawsuit, filed in January by residents Jason Rideout, Peter Fitch, Mary Ellen Fitch and Stacy Arseneault against the Municipal District of St. Stephen and Neighbourhood Works […]
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By Brian Owens, Reporter The Municipal District of St. Stephen (MDSS) and the provincial government say while they are committed to eliminating the need for a homeless shelter in the community, it cannot move forward without a location for transition housing. Around 150 people gathered at the Garcelon Civic Centre in St. Stephen on March […]
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The New Brunswick government and the Municipal District of St. Stephen (MDSS) is hosting a homelessness community services event later this month. “This event will host a community services trade show, where local organizations will share information about programs and supports available in the region, followed by a moderated discussion on homelessness in the community,” […]
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The Municipal District of St. Stephen (MDSS) has voted unanimously to reject a bridge housing project at 199 Union Street, proposed by Neighbourhood Works Inc., the non-profit operator of the shelter in the community. Over the last several years, the community has faced significant challenges related to the homelessness crisis. It is estimated that around […]
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Tony Hall will tell you he was the first person helped by Neighbourhood Works Inc. About 17 years ago, Hall lost his job. His family suffered a series of deaths and his wife and kids had left him. Unable to find another job, Hall said he chose drugs. “It started off [as] a softer drug, […]
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By The Courier Editorial Board Homelessness is no longer hidden – it is on our doorstep, in our communities, on our sidewalks – and bare the faces of people who are our neighbours, our coworkers or our classmates. It can no longer be ignored. University of New Brunswick associate professor Julia Woodhall-Melnik said homelessness was […]
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When Peter Fitch looks down from his second-floor bedroom, it doesn’t take him long to see something that makes him feel uneasy. Fitch owns the home right across from Lighthouse Lodge, the shelter for unhoused people in St. Stephen. “I think most of us would say the same thing, that we are very concerned about […]
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Plans for an affordable housing project consisting of 75 to 80 homes in east Saint John are one step closer to reality. Members of the city’s planning advisory committee unanimously approved the Sunnyside Tiny Home Community last week. The project, announced in September, is a partnership between local business leaders, Saint John Energy, United Way Maritimes and […]
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The new shelter in St. Stephen has officially opened, according to its operator Neighbourhood Works Inc. It’s named the Lighthouse Lodge and can help up to 20 regular beds, with 10 overflow beds. The full capacity is 30 people. It opened on Dec. 17, with drop-in capability on Dec. 10. Jim Stuart, the executive director, […]
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A community survey done by residents in St. Stephen showed that of the more than 200 respondents at least 78 per cent said they felt scared or threatened in the community. The survey was done by a group of citizens who both had concerns about perceived increased crime but also lived in proximity to Starshine […]
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