People experiencing homelessness in St. Stephen will soon have a new place to go.
The province says a temporary housing initiative is being set up on Happy Valley Road, near Route 1.
Mobile trailers will be delivered to the site, which should be up and running by late February.
More details will be released in the coming weeks “following discussions with immediate neighbours,” according to a Tuesday news release from the province.
“I want to sincerely thank the Municipal District of St. Stephen and the warming centre working group for collaborating with us to find a location,” Social Development Minister Jill Green said in the release.
“The community gathered together and acted to find a solution that will address the immediate concerns and perhaps even expand to include longer-term housing, which is always our goal.”
The location was chosen by a working group made up of community members, according to the news release.
It said the temporary facility will help ensure unhoused people have a place to go during the winter months.
Provincial officials said the project will include services and support for those experiencing homelessness, but a department said no other details were available at this point.
“I am pleased the province recognizes the urgent need and has worked with the working group to find a suitable location,” said St. Stephen Mayor Allan MacEachern.
“The challenge was to find a location that best fits the need for the service being provided while mitigating any negative impacts to our residents.”
St. Stephen declared a local state of emergency on Dec. 4 amid the ongoing homelessness crisis in the community.
New Brunswick’s public safety minister cancelled the order two days later, saying no state of local emergency existed in the municipality.
Community group Neighbourhood Works opened a 24-hour warming centre on Dec. 8. While it provides people experiencing homelessness a place to get out of the cold, it does not provide sleeping accommodation due to regulatory issues.
