Fredericton council approves out-of-the-cold shelter, transitional housing beds

Fredericton's roughly 300 homeless people will have about 25 out of the cold spots this winter according to the latest plan approved by council. The overnight homeless shelter will return here to the Small Craft Aquatic Centre which is between the Victoria Health Centre and the Riverfront Trail. It has about 10 bed spaces. It's small given what we know the needs are that are out there but you know really it's better than nothing. And like I say we know the property really well. We've done a bunch of work to it over the years. so it's got good security around it. For the last two years, the overnight homeless shelter had been at a building on the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds, which could hold about 35 people. But now, with that slated for demolition, that wasn't available this year. Maddox says this site is the best option for this year. We know that generally from our low barrier space at the MBX grounds, that we really, the demand would be for probably 33 to 35, even potentially 40 people so we still have hopes we're still looking but ultimately overall we will take what we got and and work with it as best we can. But along with that shelter there will also be a new project added onto 12 neighbours. Founder Marcel Lebrun says the 15 new tiny homes will be different from the 96 already there. It's a concept that can help house individuals with more complexities because there is 24-7 staffing and support but it's very quick to stand up but has a little more reduction in barriers so there's no curfew you come and go as you please you don't have to line up you don't have to leave in the morning you got a lockable place you can go to work come back all that. LeBron says this model has been proven to work elsewhere in Fredericton and St. John but adding it behind 12 neighbours wasn't his first choice. My preference was find us a better place and I'll do it there and and I can do more than 15. That didn't materialize so I offered our land as kind of a last resort because it's cold we need to do something but I'd rather have several places spread out throughout the city. Mayor Steve Hicks says that the city does need more shelter beds and that he and council will continue to push the province on this issue.