The Moncton Lions Community Centre on St. George Street will continue to operate as an emergency shelter until June 30.
At the province’s request, Moncton City Council has extended its agreement with the Province of New Brunswick and the Humanity Project by another two months since it was expected to end later this month.
Deputy mayor Bryan Butler reluctantly supported the move and he felt more is needed to help the homeless with addictions and mental health issues.
“If we keep doing what we’re doing now in five years – whoever is sitting at this desk – we’ll be talking about the same thing and it’s not working. What we’re doing is not working. It’s just not.”
Mayor Dawn Arnold has heard from many residents lately who live nearby in homes and apartment buildings.
“There are a lot of elderly people that are really quite terrified to even leave their apartments. So I think what we need to get to is ensuring that our community is safe all over, but particularly in that location.”
Council has agreed to dedicate one community bylaw officer per shift to patrol the area.
In addition, council has directed staff to work with Codiac RCMP to install surveillance cameras in the St. George Street area.
Meantime, the Moncton Lions Community Centre board moved its seniors programs from the St. George Street building to Heritage Court on Foundry Street over the winter months.
A city staff report indicated the board has enjoyed the new location and despite efforts to seek other more potentially economical spaces in the downtown, they have submitted a financial request that will allow them to remain there until the end of December 2023 while they develop a more permanent plan moving forward.
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