New Fredericton Homeless Shelters space to aid transition out of homelessness

A new facility operated by the Fredericton Homeless Shelters aims to support people as they transition out of homelessness and into independent living. 

Goddard House is not a shelter but serves as a middle step between living in a shelter and full independence, said executive director Warren Maddox. 

"It creates that further stabilization for individuals that we know aren't quite ready for independence, to be completely on their own," Maddox said. 

"[It] is really sort of a soft cushion between the reality, the harsh reality of being homeless and in a shelter, to getting back to being sort of fully independent." 

It's the organization's third transitional home, but is the first to offer a three-bedroom apartment. 

"Three-bedroom apartments are a rare thing in our ecosystem, making this property very important for us," the organization said in a statement. "We will be able to bring stability to a family struggling to make their way in the world."

The other two homes, Mim's House and Georgette's House, contain a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments. 

Maddox said those in Goddard House will pay $240 per month, which will cover everything from internet to furniture and energy. 

"It's a valuable tool for them to get used to budgeting, it's an important tool for really sort of building in that habit of having to pay something every month," he said. 

Residents usually spend eight to 18 months in the transitional units. 

He says many are successful in paying their monthly fee and then finding permanent housing, estimating a success rate of 65 to 70 per cent.

But the value of transitional homes, Maddox said, is about both success and failure.

"For that 35 per cent that fail, what we do is, they don't get a 30-day [eviction notice], it doesn't go through the landlord act, and it doesn't go through a whole bunch of rigmarole," he said.

"We move them out of the transitional space, we put them back in the shelter and we start again on the continuum … it doesn't create a negative impact on them. It doesn't burn a landlord, they don't end up with a black mark on their name."

The home on York Street was named after the late Anna Goddard, Maddox said. 

"[Her husband] Frank wanted to do something to really sort of remember her and to leave a little bit of a legacy," he said. 

"Wonderful family, really, really wonderful. Engaged in Fredericton and have been for years and years. Frank is a retired engineer, and just a really wonderful soul that has done a lot for the city — everything from arts to homelessness."