Project Overview

The City of Saint John's Housing for All Strategy embodies our community's united and compassionate approach to addressing homelessness over the next three years, using a person-centered and human rights approach.

Project update: October 21, 2025

Project update: September 22, 2025

The City of Saint John released a new Housing for All Policy Framework outlining a compassionate and coordinated approach to addressing homelessness in our community. It includes the creation of 🟢 Green, 🟡 Yellow, and 🔴 Red Zones, each with specific purposes to ensure public safety, uphold human rights, and support unhoused residents. This work is being done in partnership with local service providers and the Province of New Brunswick. To find out where the Red Zones are located, visit our interactive map here.

Housing For All Vision Statement

“Every resident within the City of Saint John is entitled to a safe, supported, and sustainable home. 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.”

With the Housing for All strategy, the City and community partners are focused on a shared vision of every resident having a safe, supported, and sustainable home. The strategy is the roadmap. There are four foundational priorities that will be built out to achieve the 28 action items identified within it.

The Housing for All Strategy will continue to develop and adapt in response to the community’s needs and lessons learned from implementing its various actions. Together, as a small city with a big heart, we can ensure that everyone in Saint John has a place to call home.

OUTCOMES:

1. To provide safe community spaces for access by all residents, while supporting individuals as they access housing that meets their specific needs.

2. We will strive to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring.

Human Development Council's Saint John Homelessness Dashboard

Working with the Province of New Brunswick

Affordable and social housing subsidies and associated wrap around services (such as mental health and addiction services) are funded through taxes collected by the Province of New Brunswick. The Government of New Brunswick is responsible for the delivery and management of these services.

Indoor sheltering and supportive housing options are provided by the Province of New Brunswick and their service providers. Some charities and community groups also offer indoor options, often with funding from the province.

For information on community groups, not-for-profit organizations, and charities in our region that support individuals experiencing homelessness, visit the New Brunswick 211 website. This free information and referral helpline connects New Brunswickers with essential community resources, helping them access the support they need.

Commitment from the City of Saint John

While the province is responsible to lead addressing homelessness in all of New Brunswick's municipalities, the City of Saint John is committed to applying resources to support efforts aimed at helping to address homelessness and increase the capacity of better options for those sleeping rough in Saint John. The development of the Housing for All policy strived to ensure all citizens of Saint John feel safe and respected, while adhering to Supreme Court of Canada rulings as they relate to an individual’s right to adequate housing. As a municipality, we have the obligation to ensure human rights-based goals and outcomes while preserving dignity.

The Housing for All strategy emphasizes a holistic approach to addressing homelessness, ensuring that housing solutions are not just about providing shelter but also about offering supportive services that address the underlying issues of homelessness.

Supportive Housing

*Information provided by the Province of New Brunswick, Department of Social Development

What kind of support services are offered at Supportive Housing sites?

Support services are provided through a trauma-informed practice and include:

Prioritized spending (budgeting based on wants vs. needs)
Access to community resources (food, support groups)
Healthcare and mental health support
Steps towards re-unification for those with children, and/or estranged family
Tenancy skill development (basic household responsibilities)
Support to reduce the risk of Housing Unit Takeover (HUT)

Local Supportive Housing

Somerset A.C.R.E.S. Housing Initiative	Sunnyside Tiny Home Community	Neighbourly Homes
Saint John Non Profit Housing Inc.	Saint John Non-Gendered Out-Of-The-Cold Shelter Hours: 8 pm to 8 am 94 Rothesay Avenue 506-349-5976 shelter.freshstart@gmail.com	The Foundation Centre – 24/7 Community Hub 102 Waterloo Street (506) 658-8050 info@outflowsj.com
Beacon Cove Youth Homeless Shelter Hours: 24/7 50 Broad Street (506) 642-3208	Coverdale Centre for Women - 24/7 Emergency Shelter 148 Waterloo Street (506) 634-1649 coverdaleprograms@gmail.com	Outflow Ministry Men's 24/7 Emergency Shelter 162 Waterloo Street (506) 658-8050 info@outflowsj.com

Shape Your Budget: 2027