New care units for homeless patients leaving hospital in Saint John [Video]

New care beds for homeless patients moving from a hospital setting back into the community will be built in Saint John this fall.

The six unit housing development will be in Waterloo Village, close to Outflow Ministry Inc.

Outflow is a partner in the pilot project along with the Horizon Health Network, the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, and Canada East Spine Centre.

“It should improve the system and how we support individuals identifying as homeless,” says Ben Appleby, director of shelter and housing at Outflow. “To have a place for individuals to go, to heal up, get treatment, get better, have a team of support around them from the hospital, and then transition off once that takes place into a permanent affordable housing unit.”

Appleby says construction will begin on the six units by September, at the latest.

“When it starts, it will go up in a hurry,” says Appleby. “We’re hoping to occupy still before the end of …