Two new public housing developments to open in Moncton this fall

Two new eight-unit public housing developments are set to open in Moncton.

Two new eight-unit public housing developments are slated to open in Moncton, N.B., this fall.

The New Brunswick government says the new developments on Main Street and Lewisville Road will improve access to affordable housing and support services in the city.

“Every unit is another family off a waitlist and ensures that we can continue to build up our processes to get more public housing built faster,” said David Hickey, minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, during Friday’s announcement.

The province says tenants will have 24-hour on-site support related to independent living skills, budgeting and financial literacy, education and employment, mental health, addictions and primary health care.

“These supports are going to be available 24/7 for residents, which is absolutely amazing,” said Social Development Minister Cindy Miles. “Having a safe home gives you the chance to breathe, to grow and to feel you have a place in this world and to know that you are valued and cared for.”

The developments are part of a larger project by the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, which commissioned non-profit group Rising Tide to build five eight-unit housing developments. Sites on McAleese Lane, Botsford Avenue and Norwood Avenue have already opened.

Dale Hicks, the president of Rising Tide Community Initiatives, said any housing agreement in Moncton is a significant one.

“Moncton is the epicenter for homelessness in the province,” said Hicks. “That’s why today’s announcement is important. But we need to move quicker and faster and build more units because the 16 we put up, there could be another double that end up in a shelter in the next few weeks.”

Hickey noted Moncton has a significant demand for affordable housing right now, with 3,500 people on the city’s waitlist. He said there are 13,000 people on waitlists for affordable housing across New Brunswick.

“We’re seeing it acutely here in Moncton. We’re seeing it in Saint John, we’re seeing it in Fredericton in our largest numbers, but we’re also starting to see it in rural communities where we have not before. These are traditionally communities that don’t have the depth of non-profit services,” said Hickey.

“The need is certainly acute in Moncton, but we’re seeing it across the province in ways we have never seen it before.”

Education Minister and Moncton South MLA Claire Johnson said the city’s homelessness issue is a priority for her.

“I hear about it all the time. My office is on St. George. We see it. We see it all the time. Any step, any move forward is huge for us,” said Johnson.

The province says there are now nearly 3,900 public housing units across New Brunswick, with more expected to open before the end of the year. Work on 127 more public housing units is ongoing at 13 sites.

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