Justine Stewart

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has introduced new standards for government-funded emergency shelters, covering safety, health, cleanliness, and staffing. While the standards are welcomed by housing critics, concerns remain about their enforcement and implications. Labrador West NDP MHA Jordan Brown expressed relief at the new standards but questioned how they will be implemented. He emphasized […]

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has introduced new standards for emergency shelters receiving government funding, addressing issues raised about some private operations. Housing Minister Fred Hutton acknowledged that implementing these standards will be costly, but emphasized the importance of investing in people. The new standards aim to improve shelter conditions by lowering barriers to access,

Halifax councillors have approved a list of nine parks for potential new homeless encampments due to overcrowding at current sites, which only accommodate about half of the 150 people experiencing homelessness in the city. As of late June, the four designated sites were filled beyond capacity, and there were additional encampments at various non-designated and

After nearly 40 days without a shelter, people experiencing homelessness in Montreal’s West Island have a new temporary home at Villa Saint-Martin, thanks to the Ricochet Centre. The centre had to close its previous location due to an expired lease and an unsuccessful search for a new site. Executive Director Tania Charron expressed relief at

The Revelstoke Community Housing Society is set to develop a major new housing project on a 1.20-hectare (2.98-acre) vacant field at 420 Downie Street, previously a school playing field. This project will consist of three buildings with 164 rental units and a childcare facility, expected to start completing by 2027. It represents the first initiative

Southwestern Manitoba’s largest city, Brandon, has broken ground on a new 24-unit transitional housing project aimed at assisting those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or exiting the corrections system. This three-storey building, a collaboration between the John Howard Society of Brandon and Westman Youth for Christ, is set to provide crucial support and

Huron County is launching the Bridge Housing and Stability program in November to provide year-round support for people experiencing homelessness. Partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Huron Perth, the program aims to help individuals transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Previously, Huron County offered emergency overnight housing in winter, successfully helping 20 people

Leduc, Alberta, city council recently approved a motion to create an overnight emergency shelter for extreme cold weather, addressing the needs of approximately 100 people experiencing homelessness in the city. This decision followed the closure of Leduc’s only homeless shelter in May. Councillor Ryan Pollard proposed the shelter, which will use modular units located behind

Saskatoon is aiming to address its housing crisis by targeting the “missing middle” of the housing continuum, which seeks to diversify affordable housing options. According to a recent Statistics Canada report, Saskatoon’s census metropolitan area grew by 16,161 people last year. To keep pace, the city needs over 5,000 new homes, but fewer than half

Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff recently issued a statement clarifying “misinformed and incorrect” remarks he made about the city’s drug policies. In a Chronicle-Journal article, Boshcoff had claimed Thunder Bay was designated as a “Safe Supply City,” attracting people seeking free drugs, and expressed frustration over the situation. In his follow-up letter, Boshcoff corrected the