SAINT JOHN – Workers in Saint John are adding the finishing touches on a $1.2 million facility for homeless youth before it’s official launch.
The Safe Harbour Transitional Youth Services facility is in direct response to what is described as a crisis in youth homelessness in Southern New Brunswick.
Officials say there are as many as 200 homeless youth in the region, many of which people call the hidden homeless.
“If you think about big cities like Toronto or Vancouver, it’s much more of an overt problem. You walk down the street and you see people sleeping in doorways and in cardboard boxes,” said Lindsay Gallagher, Residential Director of Safe Harbour.
“We don’t really see that here in Saint John because the youth are doing things like couch surfing or just living in unsafe places.”
The two-story facility has 10 beds for males and females and is considered a transitional home for both short and long stays. Gallagher said residents will come from various backgrounds, including from unsafe situations.
“So they may be living with drug dealers or sex trade workers and having to, you know, use or sell drugs or sell themselves in order to have a place to stay,” she said.
Gallagher said the first resident already has his bags packed and is ready to move in.
The facility sits on land donated by the Anglican church which also made a significant donation to the project. The church’s Bishop feels the centre’s reach will go beyond the south end.
“I imagine that we’re going to see youth coming in here from right across the coastline, maybe as far as Moncton,” said Rev’d David Edwards, the Bishop of Fredericton.
“This is a facility that is not necessarily unique but almost unique.”
Safe Harbour is going to be open to residents starting Tuesday.
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