Saint John's out-of-the-cold shelter should become long-term space, non-profit says

Saint John's out-of-the-cold shelter is a step up from previous years, says the head of the non-profit group running it, and she wants to see it outlast the winter. 

"The evolution to this year is recognizing it's not enough to give people a place to sleep at night," said Vautour, who is executive director of Fresh Start Services. "We also want to be able to engage with them, build relationships and really make them feel that they have a little home."

Vautour praises the province for the location it chose for this year's shelter — a large building on Rothesay Avenue across from a post office and a short distance from the Atlantic Superstore. It has 60 beds, 20 more than last year's response, and features showers and a communal space.

"A few of our guests have talked about how they can make their own coffee, they can watch TV, they can draw … they just feel really safe and at home here," Vautour said. 

The winter shelter is a result of a partnership between the city and the provincial government. It was announced in November and opened in early December.

The sleeping area is divided into two parts of the building, with walled-off sections or "pods," most with two beds that can be placed together. 

"We have no couple shelters in Saint John. So couples have to separate, which drives a lot of them to choose to be outside," Vautour says. 

"They don't want to leave each other, and then letting them put the cots together gives a sense of comfort and to be close to your partner. So here we have a location that has a lot of space, which in and of itself helps people to have space for themselves."

The shelter has been open for less than a week but Vautour says it saw 20 people on the first night and almost 50 in the next few days. She says they have capacity to add 10 more beds and to extend their operating hours into day time during inclement weather events or particularly cold days. 

A city announcement says the space will be evaluated for long-term use in the spring.

Vautour says the city needs a third long-term shelter, and one that can accommodate couples and pets — something it doesn't currently have.

"We're almost at capacity. We haven't even opened a week yet. And so we know the need is there," she said.

Mayor Donna Reardon said if the shelter were to become long term, it would bring "continuity" instead of having to relocate it every year.

"It's always been a scramble from the summer months onward to try to find a location and then fit up a location," she said. Keeping the shelter in the same facility for multiple years would help it to operate "like a well oiled machine," she said.