Saint John Opens New Bridge Housing Site to Expand Transitional Housing Options

The City of Saint John, in partnership with the Government of Canada and 12 Neighbours Inc., celebrated the official opening of the new Bridge Housing site today marking a significant expansion of supportive and transitional housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The 14‑unit Bridge Housing community welcomed its first residents on April 15, offering private micro‑suites equipped with a bed, bathroom, and kitchenette. Three of the suites are fully accessible. The site provides 24/7 staffing and wrap‑around services to support residents as they transition toward permanent housing.

Located adjacent to the existing Green Zone on Thorne Avenue, the new site includes shared amenities such as laundry facilities, common space, and a dedicated staff building. Bridge Housing offers a more independent model of transitional housing than the existing Neighbourly Homes communities, while still ensuring access to essential support.

On April 1, the City of Saint John transferred all agreements and land access for its three Green Zone supportive housing sites to the Province of New Brunswick. The Province has now assumed full oversight and operational responsibility for the Egbert Street Neighbourly Homes, Thorne Avenue Neighbourly Homes, and the new Bridge Housing community. 12 Neighbours continues to operate all three locations.

The Bridge Housing community builds on the success of the City’s Housing for All Strategy and strengthens Saint John’s coordinated response to supporting unhoused populations by expanding transitional housing capacity and improving access to services.

Quotes

“The Bridge Housing project is exactly the kind of undertaking the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative was designed to support, helping to reduce the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Our government is proud to support this project, which will provide access to the services needed so residents can transition to permanent housing and will also help alleviate homelessness in Saint John.”

The Honourable Wayne Long, Secretary of State for Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions, and Member of Parliament for Saint John—Kennebecasis

“Bridge Housing fills a critical gap between emergency shelters and permanent housing. It offers residents something many of us take for granted: a private space of their own, stability, and 24/7 on‑site supports that help them take the next step toward independence. This is not just a building, it is a pathway to a better future.”

Her Worship Donna Noade Reardon, Mayor of the City of Saint John

“With these 14 new Bridge Housing units, Saint John has now added 68 new transitional housing units since last August for people coming directly from encampments or living rough. That is meaningful progress. These new units are an important part of the progression from homelessness to permanent, stable housing, because housing stability is often built in steps. They offer greater independence while still providing the support people need to build stability and prepare for a successful transition to permanent housing.”

Marcel LeBrun, Founder, 12 Neighbours Inc.

Quick Facts

• The City’s Green Zone sites include:
  • • Egbert Street (27 units)
    • Thorne Avenue (27 units)
    • Thorne Avenue Extension – new Bridge Housing (14 units private micro‑suites, three of which are fully accessible.)
• The Province of New Brunswick assumed oversight and operational responsibility for all three Green Zone supportive housing sites on April 1, 2026.
• The City’s Green Zone sites were supported through a $3.5 million Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI) funding agreement announced in February 2025.
• The UHEI funding enabled the construction and operation of the Egbert Street and Thorne Avenue Neighbourly Homes communities, as well as community program supports.
• Residents began moving in to the Bridge Housing Community on April 15, 2026.
• Bridge Housing provides a more independent form of transitional housing than Neighbourly Homes, while maintaining 24/7 staffing and wrap‑around services.
• The Bridge Housing site is part of the City’s Housing for All Strategy, which aims to expand transitional housing options, improve access to services, and support rights‑based relocations.

Associated Links

Housing for All Strategy

https://shapeyourcitysaintjohn.ca/housing-for-all

12 Neighbours Community

https://12neighbours.com

Government of Canada – Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca