City of Saint John Advances Housing for All Strategy with Green Zone Designation and Partnership with 12 Neighbours Inc.

For detailed “Green Zone” information, click HERE.

In a significant step forward for the City's Housing for All Strategy, Saint John Common Council has officially designated two properties—Egbert Street and Thorne Avenue—as “Green Zones”. Additionally, Council has entered into an agreement with 12 Neighbours Inc. to develop and operate Neighbourly Homes communities at these sites.

Green Zones are City-owned properties that provide legally sanctioned, safe transitional housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. These sites offer essential services exclusively to residents, creating a structured pathway toward stable and permanent housing.

While the Green Zone designation establishes the physical space, 12 Neighbours Inc. will oversee the construction and operation of the secure transitional housing communities. Each site will consist of four courtyards, housing a minimum of 27 residents per location. The communities will also include two accessible units and accommodations for couples.

Neighbourly Homes: A Scalable and Supportive Housing Model

Founded by Marcel LeBrun, 12 Neighbours Inc. has been a leader in providing stable, permanent housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness in Fredericton. The Neighbourly Homes model features courtyard-style housing that can be built quickly, with up to 14 individual heated mini-units per courtyard. Each unit includes a bed, lighting, internet, and secure entry, ensuring dignity and safety for residents.

Each site includes shared kitchen, washroom, and laundry facilities, as well as 24/7 on-site staffing and wrap-around support services, helping residents transition toward independent living.

Prioritizing Those Most in Need

Placement in the Green Zones will be determined through the Coordinated Access System and Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), ensuring those most in need have priority access to the housing.

The Egbert Street site is expected to open mid-summer 2025, with the Thorne Avenue site following in late fall.

A Community-Wide Commitment to Ending Homelessness

The Housing for All Strategy reflects the City of Saint John's compassionate and people-centred approach to addressing homelessness. Over the next three years, the strategy will work towards homelessness becoming a rare, brief, and non-recurring experience, while supporting individuals in finding housing that meets their unique needs.

For more details on the City of Saint John’s Housing for All Strategy, visit Shape Your City, HERE.