Saint John transitional housing site to add 14 micro-suites for people who are homeless

Saint John, N.B., will soon have new transitional housing.

A transitional housing site in Saint John, N.B., is about to expand, adding more beds and living spaces for people transitioning to permanent housing.

The expanded site will be next to the existing Neighbourly Homes location on Thorne Avenue, which opened in November with 27 units for people transitioning from homelessness.

The site’s expansion will add 14 micro-suites, with each including a bed, bathroom and kitchenette. The site will also feature shared laundry facilities, common space and staff who will be on site 24/7. Three of the suites will be fully accessible.

The site will be operated by 12 Neighbours Inc., which operate the existing units on Thorne Avenue and Egbert Street (which opened last summer).

Marcel Lebrun, executive director of 12 Neighbours Inc., says the addition of 14 micro-suites represent a more independent form of transitional housing than the existing units.

“This is more independence where you can work on meal prep and the kind of things you need to get to full independence,” said Lebrun, at a special council meeting on Thursday night.

The 14 micro-suite buildings will be placed on the site starting March 15. Residents of the 14 micro-suites are expected to move in by March 31.

Managing responsibilities for the Thorne Avenue and Egbert Street transitional housing sites will switch from the municipality to the provincial government on April 1.

The city says $3.5 million in funding from the federal government’s ‘Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative’ will expire on March 31.

A statement from city hall says, “Shifting responsibility to the province ensures the long‑term sustainability of these sites and supports better outcomes for residents.”

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