N.B. housing project offers place for people transitioning from life on the streets

David Hickey, minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, makes an announcement on May 20, 2025. (New Brunswick government)

The City of Bathurst, N.B., has partnered with the Chaleur Regional Service Commission to develop a 30-unit transitional housing project. The development will offer people living rough a safe place to live, said a news release.

The project is a big step towards providing shelter and ending homelessness in Bathurst, said David Hickey, the minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation and chair of the ministerial task force on homelessness.

“Projects like this one have proven to make a positive difference in communities by getting more people out of tents and shelters and into housing solutions,” Hickey said.

The development will feature round-the-clock staff and serve as a bridge to permanent, supported housing, said the release.

The government will spend $1 million to prepare the site and connect it to municipal infrastructure, the province said.

The ministerial task force secured $7.4 million in emergency funding in the fall – money that was offered for “shovel-ready” projects that can help people transition from living on the streets to secure housing.

“We know that supportive housing provides a pathway to stability and improved well-being for people experiencing homelessness,” said Social Development Minister Cindy Miles.

Projects in other communities are also being reviewed for funding.

“This is great news for Bathurst and for the region, as we know that some people have struggled to find a safe place to live,” said Mayor Kim Chamberlain. “This site will help people focus on reclaiming their lives and start down a path to long-term success.”

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