The New Brunswick government says it will review the location of homelessness, addiction, and mental health services in downtown Fredericton following a push from city council. A city staff report presented to councilors on Monday described the downtown area between the Victoria Health Centre and Westmorland/King Street as a “corridor of undesirable activity.” The report says Fredericton has experienced “increasing pressures” associated with housing insecurity, homelessness, addictions, mental health challenges and public disorder. “These pressures are evident across the city, but their municipal impacts are most acute in the downtown core, along portions of the riverfront trail system, in public spaces, and in the area surrounding the Victoria Health Centre,” says the report. City council endorsed the report’s recommendation, asking the provincial government and Horizon Health (which manages the Victoria Health Centre) “to review the location, concentration, coordination, hours of operation, security, and community impacts of services, including harm reduction services, currently operating in the downtown core and at the VHC.” Social Development Minister Cindy Miles says a review will be carried out. “It’s certainly something that we’re going to take back and review, to see if we’re getting the right spaces,” says Miles. “We’re working with the City of Fredericton very closely to find appropriate spaces.” No timeline was provided for how long the review would take. Horizon Health did not provide comment on Tuesday regarding the city council motion. Miles says it’s been a challenge in Fredericton and other municipalities to find appropriate locations for such services. “There are not a lot of spaces out there that are zoned properly, that have the space that we need, and that we can put those wrap-around supports and services into place,” says Miles. City council also supported motions on Monday specifying provincial responsibilities for the planning, funding and delivery of homelessness services in the city, along with support for three projects: For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
