Safe Harbour teen homeless shelter opens in Saint John

An emergency teen homeless shelter and transition home is opening this week in Saint John.

After years of planning and fundraising, Safe Harbour, a 10-bed facility in the citys south end, will welcome its first resident on Tuesday.

"Its really overwhelming but so exciting," said residential director Lindsay Gallagher. "I cant wait to open our doors," she said.

The shelter, located on Broad Street, is holding an open house for the public today from 6 p.m. until8 p.m.

The two-storey facility has an open-concept layout with a living room, games room, kitchen, dining room, library, art room, quiet room and girls' bedrooms on the main floor. Upstairs is the boys' area with a TV room, said Gallagher.

It sits on the former site of St. James Anglican Church, which was donated by the Anglican diocese,after sitting vacant for seven years.

The shelter will house both male and female youth, aged 16 to 24.

Residents can stay for short-term emergencies, or up to six months, when needing time to transition to permanent housing, said Gallagher.

Althoughmany of the homeless youth in the city are not currently living on the street, but rather staying atadult shelters, or "couch surfing" with friends,"Some are staying in unsafe situations,"she said.

Two staff will be on-site 24 hours a day for two shifts.