New housing units for homeless hospital patients coming to Saint John

A new partnership in Saint John will see six new convalescent housing units built in the Port City to allow forhospital patients who are homeless a place to recover after being discharged.

The partnership is between Horizon Health Network, Outflow Ministry, the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation and Canada East Spine Centre.

Ben Appleby, the director of shelter and housing at Outflow Ministry, said the shelter has seen a large influx over the last few years of people being discharged from hospitals or released from jails.

"Particularly with the hospital, you often have individuals with fairly complex health needs being discharged into a shelter system that can put a lot of strain on the shelters," he said.

"It makes it difficult for staff and it also makes it difficult for the individual. Obviously, they're not going to recover or heal all that well in that kind of a system."

A news release from Horizon saidOutflow Ministry will develop six single-occupancy units, each equipped with separate entrances, in the uptown area.

The units are designed for short-term stays, the release said, ranging from about four to six months. From there, patients will either transition to permanent housing or a local shelter.

The housing project is a response to research conducted by a team made up of several New Brunswick organizations. The study, the release said, which revealed that from 2020-23, 50 homeless patients accounted for 885 emergency department visits, 205 acute admissions and 64 readmissions.

"We know the health-care system is under a lot of strain as well, and they need ER beds open for those who need them," said Appleby. "It's really similar to the shelter system itself. I mean, we're an emergency shelter, so there's only so many beds to occupy."

There will be some conditions that people who stay in the Waterloo Street units will need to abide by. He said Horizon staff, as part of the program, will do an intake with an individual and tick off some boxes, such asmaking sure they are on the housing wait list before they are referred to the program.

He said the personwill sign a lease and receive health support from Horizon and tenancy support from Outflow Ministry. A review period will show whether they arerecovering properly and then they'll hopefully be transferred to permanent affordable housing.

Appleby said an application has been submitted to Housing N.B. to have the units subsidized, with tenants paying 30 per cent of their income to stay there. He said a basic income would be a requirement for living in one of the subsidized unitsif the application is approved.

Construction will likely begin in September, with the goal of having the units occupied by the end of the year.

Horizon said the project will initially support 12 to 18 people, with plans to expand in place.