New Brunswick releases provincial strategy on homelessness

The New Brunswick government released a strategy to reduce homelessness by 40 per cent by 2029.

The New Brunswick government has released its provincial strategy on the homelessness, in an effort to reduce chronic homelessness in the province by 40 per cent by 2028-29.

The province says the New Brunswick Housing Corporation and the departments responsible for social development, health, justice and public safety, and local government, worked with community organizations, service providers and people who have experienced homelessness to ensure the strategy reflects current realities and needs.

“Reducing chronic homelessness will take commitment, collaboration and a clear path forward, and this strategy gives us a road map to follow,” said David Hickey, minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation and chair of the ministerial task force on homelessness in a Thursday news release. “By aligning our efforts across government and working closely with communities, we can make timely, effective decisions that better support New Brunswickers who need it most.”

The province says the strategy identifies key areas for action, including:

• Strengthening prevention efforts by identifying training needs, resources and gaps in emergency response, such as shelters; studying discharge trends from institutions, including hospitals, and the child welfare system to better understand the reasons people find themselves homeless and providing supports and programming to prevent these outcomes; and improving intake, support and discharge services for people in the criminal justice system.
• Expanding housing options, including supportive and affordable housing.
• Improving access to essential services, enhancing collaboration, and using data to guide decisions and measure progress.

The plan also emphasizes the importance of local engagement supported through mechanisms such as municipal roundtables, which would bring together local governments, regional service commissions, and community partners to identify priorities and develop tailored solutions.

“This strategy represents a meaningful step toward a more co-ordinated response to homelessness in our province,” said Greg Bishop, chair of the advisory council and senior director of the Human Development Council in Saint John in the release. “By grounding our actions in evidence and lived experience, we are creating a path forward that ensures no one is left behind and supports lasting change for New Brunswickers who are struggling.”

Hickey said new supportive housing projects have been confirmed for Bathurst, and Moncton, in addition to one in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Fredericton, N.B.

Issues related to homelessness at the provincial level have traditionally been handled by the department of social development.

At a news conference in Saint John on Thursday, Social Development Minister Cindy Miles said the strategy was historic because it shared provincial responsibilities amongst a number of departments, including health, justice, public safety, and local government.

“Bringing all those folks to one table really expedites decision making,” said Miles. “This is historic in that we are bringing those conversations to one space for decision making.”

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