2026-02-05_Agenda Packet--Dossier de l'ordre du jour
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OPEN REPORT
M&C No.2026-029
Report DateFebruary 02, 2026
Meeting DateFebruary 05, 2026
Service AreaGrowth and Community
Services
Her Worship Mayor Donna Noade Reardon and Members of Common Council
SUBJECT: Housingfor All Bridge Housing Project
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT FOR OPEN SESSION OF
COUNCIL
Primary AuthorCommissioner/Dept. HeadInterim Chief Administrative
Officer
David Dobbelsteyn/ Amy Poffenroth / David Kevin Fudge
Cara CoesDobbelsteyn
RECOMMENDATION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Contribution Agreement with the Province of New Brunswick on January 26, 2026, in support of
the Housing for All Strategy, the City and the Province jointly pursued the development of a new
bridge housing projectwith on site supports. Thelow-barrierhousing project will include 14
microsuiteseach with a bed, bathroom, and kitchenettealong with shared amenities; 3 of
the suites will be barrier free.The housing projectwill be staffed 24/7 by trained support staff.
This form of housing is in short supply in Saint John and will provide unhoused individuals,
regardless of acuity level, with additional pathways toward stable and independent living.
The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) and received one submission from 12Neighbours
Community Inc. to construct and operate thehousingproject. The proposal met all RFP
requirementsand as a result, the City is awardingthe RFP to 12Neighbours Community Inc. The
City will fund 100% of the housing
contribution agreement with the Province of New Brunswick. The Province has agreed to assume
year term beginning April 1, 2026. It
is anticipated that the Bridge Housing Project will open for initial client intake starting on March
31, 2026.
To support the implementation of this project, the City is also expanding the existing Green Zone
on Thorne Avenue to include the approximately 40 m x 35 m footprint of the new development.
courtyards(located within existing Green Zones)provide
temporary transitional housing for up to 54 individuals and have been safely and responsibly
operated by 12Neighbours Community Inc. since August 1, 2025. Public engagement and
communication related to the new Bridge Housing Project will begin on February 6, 2026.
the various
levels of governmentand nonprofit partners to work collaboratively to respond quickly and
effectively to urgent housing and homelessness challenges.
PREVIOUS RESOLUTION
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
The recommendationsin this report align with
The Bridge Housing Projectalso provides additional options for the continued delivery ofthe
Red Zone Implementation Plan according to the Housing for All Policy Framework:
HFA 33: If relocation is required, every reasonable attempt will be made to support that individual
moving to a location that meets their needs.
ATTACHMENTS
SmallCity,
BigHeart.
HousingforAllStrategy
February5,2026
Contribution Agreement
UHEI Funding
$3.4 M Funding Announcement February 2025
Funding Agreement with Federal and Provincial Governments
Construct and Operate two Green Zones Neighbourly Homes
Community Program Support
Housing for All Strategy
#ActionDeliverable
6Unhoused Sites The City in collaboration with the Province of New
(supported sites with Brunswick will implement supported unhoused
structures)site(s) program for pilot sites for up to twenty-five
(25) individuals per location.
10Unsheltered SitesThe program will identify: Green Zones where
Unhoused Sites (structures) will be located
24Supportive Housing The Province of New Brunswick, Front-line
OptionsAgencies and City will collaborate on potential
supportive housing options.
Housing for All Strategy
{ǒƦƦƚƩƷƭ LƓķźǝźķǒğƌƭ
x
Existing Green Zones
x
Existing Green Zones
Egbert Street
August1,2025
Thorne Avenue
November 1, 2025
Egbert Street and Thorne Avenue Green Zones
Egbert Street Thorne Avenue
August1,2025November1,2025
27 Transitional Units27 Transitional Units
26 occupied24 occupied
x
Existing Green Zones April 1, 2026
Province of New
Brunswick will take
over responsibility
of running Green
Zones from City.
12Neighbours will
remain the operator.
Expanded Green Zone -
Bridge Housing Project
Transitional Housing option with support services
Helps transition people to their next level of housing
Request For
Proposal
Build & Operate
BUILD
14MicroSuites,eachwithabed,
bathroom,kitchenette.
o 3 of the units will be
accessible
CommonAreaandStaffBuilding
OPERATE
Staffingmodel24/7/365
GeneralSiteLayoutandMicroSuiteFloorPlan
Laundry
Resident Lounge
Accessible Ramp
Main Entrance
Admin Building
Accessible Micro suites
(B1-B3)
Decks | D1-D2
Micro suites
(R1-R11)
Utility / Meeting Space
Wooden Perimeter Fence
Thorne Avenue Green Zone Expansion
Bridge Housing Site
Expansion of current Thorne Avenue
Green Zone Neighbourly Homes
Nearby Services
Transportation Options
Next Steps
February 6 Begin Public Communication and Engagement
February 7 Construction of units begins
March 15Buildings start to be placed on site
March 31Bridge Housing Project open for initial intake of residents
April 1Responsibility of Green Zones transfers to Province of New Brunswick.
Continue to be operated by 12 NeighboursInc
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.ProvidedthattheProvinceofNewBrunswickexecutestheAssignmentAgreementreferredtoat
paragraph2belowonorbefore5pmonFridayFebruary6,2026,thatCommonCouncilaward2026-
092201PHousingforAllConstructionandOperationofBridgeHousingto12NeighboursIncatatotal
priceof$3,905,720plusHSTandthattheCityenterintotheServiceAgreementwith12Neighbours
CommunityInc.,generallyintheformaspresentedtotheCommitteeoftheWholeatitsmeetingheld
February5,2026,forthepurposeofconstructingandoperatingabridgehousingproject,andinsupport
oftheimplementationoftheCityofSaintJohnHousingforAllStrategy,andthattheMayorandClerkbe
authorizedtoexecutethesaidAgreementandanyotherdocumentsancillarythereto.
2.ThattheCityenterintoanAssignmentAgreementwiththeProvinceofNewBrunswick,generallyinthe
formaspresentedtotheCommitteeoftheWholeatitsmeetingheldFebruary6,2026,forthepurpose
ofassigningtheServiceAgreementwith12NeighboursCommunityInc.totheProvinceeffective
April1,2026ontheconditionthattheProvinceofNewBrunswickexecutethesaidAssignment
Agreementonorbefore5pmonFridayFebruary6,2026,andthattheMayorandClerkbeauthorized
toexecutethesaidAssignmentAgreementandanyotherdocumentsancillarythereto.
3.ThatCommonCouncilexpandtheexistingGreenZonetoaportionofPID00411710generallyas
presentedtotheCommitteeoftheWholeatitsmeetingheldFebruary5,2026.