Canada/Saint-Jean discusses a strategy to support the homeless
Following the deaths of homeless people last winter, a committee of Saint John City Council in New Brunswick on Wednesday approved a three-year strategy to address the housing and homelessness crisis. It will soon be submitted to the full city council for approval.
Senior Administrator Brent McGovern presented the Housing for All strategy to the city's Public Safety Committee .
Homeless people are setting up unsafe makeshift encampments near schools, daycares, parks and roads, McGovern said.
These encampments can become not only unsightly, but also risky for the homeless and for public health, and create concern for public safety and well-being, he said.
A provincial responsibility
The strategy aims to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring. The document addresses the coordination of municipal actions in this area, as well as the rationalization of resources and planning around a problem that is ultimately a provincial responsibility.
It proposes 28 actions in the areas of coordination and governance, emergency support, prevention, information and safety, and housing support.
Saint John estimates that 344 people on its territory are chronically homeless, and that 663 people experienced this situation for at least one day last year.
Use of emergency shelters has increased by 62% over the past two years. Firefighters responded to almost 200 reports of outdoor and camp fires in the first six months of 2024.
Three people recently died as a result of fires in campsites, and one man lost a leg to frostbite.
The strategy emphasizes cooperation between the provincial and federal governments and community organizations that help the homeless.
It describes a center where this population would have support, and recommends that a warming shelter be opened each winter. It also calls for an increase in the number of shelter beds and the designation of land where encampments would be permitted.
The strategy recommends that the province fund transitional housing for up to 25 people, as well as the construction of social housing. There would also be a federal government rental support program and training for people housed in this way.
Councillors call for swift action
David Dobbelsteyn, City Manager for Growth and Community Services, said the strategy is just a first step, a roadmap.
Councillor Joanna Killen criticized the strategy, saying it lacks long-term solutions, specific, measurable goals and a detailed funding plan, among other things.
Brent McGovern explained that the municipality's revenues cannot be used to build housing, which is the responsibility of the provincial government.
David Dobbelsteyn added that local governments have difficulty responding to homelessness without funding.
Mayor Donna Reardon believes that the municipality can still take action. Everyone says it's a provincial responsibility, but we suffer the consequences. We look after our population and they are citizens," she stressed.
Councillor David Hickey asked officials for a more ambitious timetable. Our neighbourhoods are on the front line of this housing crisis and we need to rise to the occasion and respond in the present moment with concrete actions and results for the community, he said.
David Dobbelsteyn recommended that the committee forward the strategy to City Council for approval so that officials can prepare a more precise timeline and funding targets for each recommended action.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
