Experiencing Homelessness The Second Report Card on Homelessness in Saint John, 2010
Youth issues and initiatives are highlighted in this report card. Area high school students participated in a National Housing Day Event called H.E.L.P. last November (page 10). A youth housing program became a community priority at an at-risk youth forum in November (page 2, 7 and 10). An area youth is in school and living in an apartment after escaping a life of drugs and ‘living rough’ on the streets (page 5). Photo courtesy of Colin McDonald. Homelessness Indicators Population of Saint John CMA (2006 census) Number of individuals who stayed in a shelter bed Number of emergency shelter beds in Greater Saint John: For men For women & children (domestic violence) For Women (not domestic violence) Number of food banks/meal programs Number of soup kitchens Number of NB individuals assisted Hunger Count Housing Indicators Number of provincially subsidized housing units Of these, # of units owned by the province Of these, # of provincially subsidized private (rent supplement units) Number on the provincially subsidized waiting list New units in the Affordable Rental Housing Program Number of transitional housing units Number of second stage housing units Rental vacancy rate Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment Income Indicators Social assistance for a single person # of individuals on social assistance in the Saint John CMA (includes those on disability assistance) Minimum Wage in NB
2009 122,389 934* 70* 26 24 20 26 1 17,889 2,042 1,286 756 1,339 106 44 14 3.6% $644 $294** 6,860 $8.25
*These numbers do not include the Gateway to Hope Transition House, which closed in the Spring of 2009. **The rate for a single person was raised to $537 as of January 1, 2010
2ND REPORT CARD ON HOMELESSNESS IN GREATER SAINT JOHN
This year’s edition of the report card includes statistics and stories from around the province, as well as Saint John. In the city section, we report on successes from the past year, and what still needs to be done. The provincial section contains statistics and stories about issues that affect homeless people across the province, and highlights from Bathurst, Moncton and Fredericton. The report card is produced by The Greater Saint John Homelessness Steering Committee. Check out last year’s report card online: sjhdc.ca. For more information, or to provide feedback, contact coordinator Mark Leger at 636-8541. E-mail: mark@sjhdc.ca Inside The City Page 2: Outflow expands Page 3: The lasting legacy of Bob Dickison Page 4: One homeless youth out of the woods The Province Page 5: Homelessness indicators Page 6: Rooming Houses Page 7: Youth Services Page 8: Shelter Funding Page 9: Provincial highlights
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