Saint John’s mayor says homelessness has been the city’s biggest challenge over the past year.
Donna Reardon said as the numbers grow, they continue to look to government partners for help.
“We try to do what we can to work with the other levels of government to provide what we can, but we don’t have the resources at the end of the day to deal with homelessness as a whole issue,” Reardon said in a year-end interview.
At least 237 people were experiencing homelessness in Saint John as of early November, according to figures from the Human Development Council.
Reardon said there is no doubt the city needs to be part of the conversation in helping to address homelessness.
Council has taken steps of its own, she said, such as working on a long-term strategy to address the city’s response to homelessness.
Earlier this month, council adopted a vision statement to be used as part of the creation of its Housing for All strategy.
“Every resident within the City of Saint John is entitled to a safe, supported, and sustainable home,” said part of the statement.
“In the spirit of the right to adequate housing articulated in the 1948 United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the City of Saint John wishes for its residents to live in security, peace, and dignity, regardless of the home’s permanence.
“The City of Saint John’s goal is to provide safe community spaces for access by all its residents, while supporting individuals as they access housing that meets their specific needs.”
Reardon said she hopes money set to come from the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund will lead to more affordable housing in the city.
Council voted Dec. 18 to enter into a contribution agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
But we will not know how much the city will get until CMHC makes the official announcement at a later date.
Saint John had applied for around $15 million to help build more than 1,200 new housing units over three years.
“The need is definitely there for Saint John,” said Reardon, who said the official announcement is expected in January.
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