Achi news desk-
By Wednesday, the warming center in St Stephen, NB, will be nothing more, with nothing ready to replace its services.
Neighborhood Works, which operates the facility, did not respond to a request for an interview. A statement issued late last week by his working group says the impending closure will only “exacerbate the many challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness.”
It was always planned for the center to cease operations at the end of April, but the reason is not clear. The group first stepped up to offer a warming center at their facility after an emergency in early December following the death of 41-year-old Adam Dickerson, who was found in need of emergency medical care at a local park before dying. Dickerson had been homeless for several years.
The state of emergency was ended by the provincial government within 48 hours, with the understanding that both levels of government would work together to build a permanent shelter.
In February the center added sleeping accommodation to its list of services for the homeless in the town.
The Mayor of St Stephen Allan MacEachern is grateful for the organization stepping in for the town when they needed it most.
“Neighbourhood Works and all the volunteers who work with Neighborhood Works, it was amazing to see them come to fruition and help us through that challenging time,” said MacEachern. “They stepped up and put their regular operations on hold and took on this challenge for us and got us through this winter.”
It is not known what will come next for the homeless in the town as there is no center for them to go to, and the camping sites of the past have been boarded up.
The mayor met with the province late Monday afternoon, where he hoped to get an update on plans for a more permanent shelter, as the municipality does not have the resources to take the next steps without help.
“We don’t have the money, we don’t have the toolbox of people to do this work, or the expertise and all those things,” MacEachern noted. “It’s not in our wheelhouse at all. We just need to support the province in this challenge we have.”
In a statement sent to CTV Atlantic, the Department of Social Development says it is “committed to supporting transitional and public housing options for the community,” but did not provide a timeline or any details on when the next steps will be taken. .
