Lighthouse Lodge shelter in St. Stephen, N.B., opens for town’s homeless population

A permanent shelter for the unhoused people of St. Stephen, N.B., has opened its doors for service 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

The Lighthouse Lodge opened its doors for overnight accommodation on December 17 after opening a few days earlier for daytime services.

The Lodge has 30 overnight beds but can accommodate more people during the day. Their services are available to all homeless residents in Charlotte County. There are clean washrooms, showers, and laundry services for users at the facility located at 9 Main Street in St. Stephen.

Neighbourhood Works, the non-profit organization that operates the shelter also offers three meals a day to all those experiencing homelessness.

Jim Stuart is executive director of Neighbourhood Works. In an email to CTV, he said the facility offers haircuts, wound clinics and will soon have foot clinics and even more services available in the new year.

“We will have a space on site for addictions and mental health, income assistance, and social services to use to facilitate client’s needs,” Stuart said. “This has proved successful in other places as a way for guests to access services in an environment that is trusting and comfortable. It also has a much higher rate of guests following up on services as the services are in the building.”

Stuart said they are only using around one third of the 7,000 square foot building because there is still work to do on the site. He said the space will evolve in response to community needs and available funds.

“Homelessness, addictions, and mental health is not always, if ever, pretty to witness but having services available when people are ready is key,” said Stuart. “This space will foster services and people that can advocate for the appropriate services at the right time so shelters and (out of the cold shelters) will be a thing of the past, or at the least minimal.”

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