Saint John rallies to save Safe Harbour youth shelter

People in Saint John are rallying in supportof keepingSafe Harbour, the city'semergency and transitional housing facility foryouth, open.

A Save Safe Harbour campaign has raised more than $1,200since the pending closure was announced last week, and about 150 people have registered to attenda rally atKing's Square tonight at 6 p.m.

"I wasn't expecting to get as much support and stuff as Ihave been,"said organizerCatrinaBourque.

"Ihave people I've never met before,or heard of before,messaging me and offering me help," she said.

I've been in that situation before, where Ithought Iwasn't able to pay my rent on time, where Iwas scared to be out on the street.- Catrina Bourque, campaign organizer

The 10-bed facility, which opened less than a year ago,is slated to close on Jan. 29,due to a lack of funding.

About$550,000 is required to remove a constructionlien on the facility.

Bourqueis not affiliated with Safe Harbour, but felt compelled to get involved.

"I've been in that situation before, where Ithought Iwasn't able to pay my rent on time, where Iwas scared to be out on the street," she said.

Safe Harbour's treasurer and secretary Kit Hickey is encouraged by the community support.

"Every dollar that is raised is very beneficial, however the reality is that this is a significant sum of money that we need to put in place in order to avoid the closure," she said.

The provincial Regional Development Corporationrejected a request for a loan guarantee to gettheconstruction lien lifted and allow the board of directors to continue its fundraising efforts, saying there is no program available to support such arequest.

The provincial Department of Social Development has also denied a funding request of about $200,000 approximately half of the annual operating costs saying the boardhas been unable to demonstrate it has met theconditions for funding.

The departmentwill ensure the needs of Safe Harbour's current residents are met, Minister Cathy Rogers has said.

Safe Harbour gives youth aged 16 to 24a place tostayduring short-term emergencies, or for up to six months, when needing time to transition to permanent housing.

Case managers also help youth access mental health and addictionscounselling, as well as educational and employment opportunities.

Hickey says about 55 youth have used Safe Harbour since it opened 10 months ago on the former site of St. James Anglican Church on Broad Street.