Caraquet council votes in favour of warming shelter after residents agree to plan

The Town of Caraquet has voted to support the opening of a temporary warming shelter at the nearby airport.

The vote comes after council tabled the initial motion on Jan. 12 because of backlash from residents. But, according to the town's mayor, the once-upset neighbours have now embraced the project

“The last week was one of the most amazing periods of my life in terms of politics and about municipal democracy,” said Bernard Thériault. 

The Acadian Peninsula Regional Service Commission plans to establish a six-bed overnight shelter at the nearby airport, which isn't used during the winter, to meet the needs of the homeless population in the area — a solution, it said, has been in the works for over two years.

Thériault said after hearing concerns from local residents, the council delayed the vote to decide what to do. On Jan.15, council held a public meeting where they brought in social workers and those involved in the project. Officials explained why the location was the only feasible option for this year and the security measures that have been put in place.

Thériault said it became clear residents were worried this project was going to become a long-term solution, but, after holding meetings, he said neighbours agreed to allow the town to test out the project for this year.

WATCH | How the public got on board with the project:

N.B. town finds surprising solution for homeless shelter: an airport

January 22|

Duration 2:51

The Town of Caraquet in northern New Brunswick has greenlit the opening of a homeless shelter in the Acadian Peninsula’s airport, which is not used during the winter.

“With that agreement, not only did they [say], ‘Yes,’ but it was emotional [on Tuesday] when those people said, ‘Not only do we want this to work, we want to help you out in making it happen,’” said Thériault.

Cédric Landry, director of community engagement for the Acadian Peninsula Regional Service Commission, said he felt relief and happiness during Tuesday’s council meeting because it’s the third year the commission has been trying to find a solution in the area.

“We faced a lot of closed doors, a lot of resistance and getting the population on board, the council on board has been, let's put it this way, a good victory for us and for the homelessness community and all our partners,” said Landry.

Still, Landry said the celebration will be short-lived as his team is working to get the shelter up and running for the first week of February. And, he said, they are already looking for a location for next winter, since the council’s vote was conditional on a single winter.

Landry said there are about 100 to 150 people who experience homelessness in one way or another — couch surfing, for example — on the Acadian Peninsula. And he said there around 10 people presently living in absolute homelessness.

He said the shelter can accommodate six people and will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. when it is under 10 C.

“Pretty much as soon as the temperatures are getting on the warmer side, we'll be shutting down, as simple as that,” said Landry. 

“Always looking for a permanent solution, though, that's our aim. At the end of the day, … this is one tool within the toolbox to help with the homelessness situation in our area.”

For Thériault, he said council learned a lot from this process. He said he realized the town might not have a proper system in place to communicate with its people. 

"It's a lesson in democracy where we probably have [to] develop some better ways to communicate to our people,” he said.

“And we discovered that people at the community level, I guess, are ready to listen if we gave them the opportunity to learn about the process.”