See information below in the section “Emergency Shelters, Warming Shelters, Transitional Housing and Second-Stage Housing” to learn more about how the different types of shelter and housing services work.
Note that addresses are not listed for transition houses and second stage housing to keep residents safe. Please phone and staff will give you the address and instructions.
If you would like to learn more about accessing food banks or other food services, you can visit Food For All NB’s food map at https://foodforallnb.ca/foodmap. By checking “Food Access Locations” you will be able to see all free programs in the province include food boxes, college and university campus food banks for students, and meal programs for children.
For a map of all multicultural and ethnocultural centres and associations in the province you can visit the New Brunswick Multicultural Council’s map page at https://nbmc-cmnb.ca/map-locations/?mpfy-pin=2588
Housing Resources
The information below includes support for people who are renting in New Brunswick, as well as information about emergency shelters, warming shelters, women’s shelters, and second stage housing for people leaving crisis situations.
Please refer to our Emergency Health and Social Services Page for further resources, including the New Brunswick Multicultural Council’s Resources for Women. These translated resources are for non-status, refugee, and immigrant women, international women students, and women here as temporary workers and their children who are experiencing or have previously experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). As well, some of the resources are for women who are struggling with addictions or their mental health. These resource lists include information about transition houses and second stage housing for women and their children who have left an abusive household.
If anyone threatens to call CBSA or IRCC about you, contact us.
If you look through the resources below and you need help finding services that are not listed, please contact us.
You can contact us by email info@madhucentre.ca or by calling Migrant Workers Alliance for Change 1 506 251-7467.
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Government of New Brunswick – “Renting in New Brunswick” - Menu of Services and resources
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/renting-in-new-brunswick.html
To get help in solving a dispute with your landlord call the Residential Tenancies Tribunal
1-888-762-8600
email at irent@snb.ca
Apply for a rent subsidy – Canada Housing Benefit
To be eligible, you must have filed income tax in Canada in the past year. See website for other application criteria. You may be able to receive this Benefit for up to three years. https://socialsupportsnb.ca/en/program/canada-housing-benefit-chb
Department of Social Development – Social Housing Programs, 1-833-733-7835
https://socialsupportsnb.ca/en/program/public-housing-and-rent-supplement-programs
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If you had an emergency and cannot pay for heating.
This may include, an unexpected cost that has led to your heat source being disconnected or a notice of disconnection.
You have to choose between feeding your family and paying your winter heating bill, or
You got sick and had unexpected high medical costs, that have made it hard to pay your heating bill.
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, the Emergency Fuel Benefit may be able to help. It provides up to $550 to eligible households who are unable to pay the costs of winter heating due to unavoidable and unforeseen situations. If you are eligible, you can access it once in a given year. It covers up to $550 of the cost of purchasing electricity, oil, wood, gas, etc. You need to show proof of your current income and expenses. After you call, someone can help you understand what documents you will need.
1-833-733-7835
https://socialsupportsnb.ca/en/program/emergency-fuel-benefit
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211 is a free information and referral helpline for New Brunswickers to call when they need help finding supports in their community.
Dial 2-1-1 or call Toll-Free Line: 1-855-258-4126
Toll-free Text-based line (for those who are deaf, speech impaired, or hard of hearing): 1-855-405-7446
211nb@findhelp.ca
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Emergency Shelters and Resources list:
Updated February 2024
https://socialsupportsnb.ca/en/simple_page/supports-people-experiencing-homelessness
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Homeless shelters are places that you can stay for free. If you are 19 and over and identify as homeless, you qualify to stay. You will be able to sleep here, but each shelter has their own hours of operation. Sometimes you are not able to be in a shelter during the daytime. In this situation, you can go to a warming shelter during those times. There may be things like showers, meals and laundry on-site. All shelters are different.
Out of the Cold/Warming Centres
Out-of-the-cold shelters are open in some urban areas in the winter for times when people are not allowed in shelters or when they are passing through the area. These places have bathrooms, places to get water and may offer food, drinks, etc. There may be wifi available. Each service will be different.
Transition Houses are places that women and people who identify as women can go if they have been abused and need a safe place to stay. Women may bring children to the house with them. You can arrive to the address, but it is best to call first.
Second Stage Housing are homes that women and their children can stay in for a time after they have left an abusive relationship.
There are also youth homeless shelters in New Brunswick for people under the age of 19:
Beacon Cove in Saint John – 50 Broad St., (506)-642-3208
Miramichi Youth House – 870 King George Highway, (506) - 624 - 9909
INDIGENOUS Transition House - Gignoo Aboriginal Transition House
1-800-565-6878; 506-458-1224
EDMUNDSTON
Transition House - Escale Madavic: 506-739-6265
Second Stage Housing - Escale Madavic, (506) 739-6265
CAMPBELLTON
Transition House - Maison Notre Dame: 506-753-4703
TRACADIE
Transition House - L’Accueil Sainte-Famille Inc.: 506-395-1500
Second Stage Housing - Complexe de l’espoir Inc., (506) 395-6035
BATHURST
Bathurst Emergency Shelter
753 Assaff Dr, (506) 549-3232
Bathurst Warming Centre
Hours: 8pm – 8am
747 Assaff Drive
(506)252-4884
Transition House - Maison de Passage House Inc., 506-546-9540
MIRAMICHI
Miramichi Adult Shelter
316 Regina Street, (506) 622-5377
Out of the Cold – Warming Shelter
Hours: 8 pm to 8 am
15 Jane Street
506-625-7236
https://www.facebook.com/MiramichiHousingSolutions
Warming Shelter - Linden Rec Centre
487 King George Highway
Hours: 8:30pm -8:00am daily (except 11:30pm - 8am Saturdays)
Transition House - Miramichi Emergency Centre, 506-622-8865
FREDERICTON
Victoria Health Centre (Ironwood Resource Centre)
Hours:24/7
65 Brunswick Street
E3B 1G5
(506) 450-5294
a.sullivan@fhfs.ca
Oak Centre
1216 Regent Street
St. John House
65 Brunswick Street, (506) 450-1102, info@theshelters.ca
https://www.theshelters.ca/our-services/st-john-house
Grace House for Women
275 Brunswick Street, (506) 450-3001, info@theshelters.ca
https://www.theshelters.ca/our-services/grace-house
Warming Shelter – Out of the Cold - Small Craft Aquatic Center
Hours: 8pm – 8am
63 Brunswick Dr, (506) 450-1102
Transition House - Women in Transition: 506-459-2300
Second Stage Housing - Liberty Lane, (506) 451-2120
WOODSTOCK
Transition House - Sanctuary House: 506-325-9452
KENT COUNTY
Transition House - Serenity House: 506-743-1530
Second Stage Housing - Maison Oasis, (506) 743-5449
https://www.centrepreventionviolence.com/en/
SHEDIAC
Transition House - Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre Inc., 506-533-9100
Second Stage Housing - Residence of Hope (Shediac), (506) 533-9100
MONCTON
Lion’s Centre (Bridge to Home)
Hours: 24/7
473 St. George Street
(506) 317-0388
Harvest House
182 High Street,
(506) 855-0626
https://harvesthouseatlantic.org/
House of Nazareth
75 Albert Street, (506) 858-5702
Maison-Nazareth@maisonnazareth.com
https://maisonnazareth.com/fr/
Warming Shelter - Harvest House
Hours: Daytime
182 High St, (506) 388-4357
HUB Center
John Howard Society of Southeastern New Brunswick
(Men / Women)
Hours: 8 pm to 8 am
473 St. George Street
(506) 317-0388
info@johnhowardsenb.com
Transition House - Crossroads for Women, 506-875-3515
Second Stage Housing - Crossroads for Women Inc., second stage (Moncton),
(506) 875-3515
https://crossroadsforwomen.ca/en/
SUSSEX
Transition House - Sussex Vale Transition House, 506-432-6999
SAINT JOHN
Men’s Shelter - Outflow Ministry Inc.
162 Waterloo Street, (506) ) 658-8050
info@outflowsj.com
Coverdale Center for Women
148 Waterloo Street, (506) 634-1649
Out of the Cold Warming Shelter - Outflow Ministry Inc.
(Men / Women)
Hours: 8 pm to 8 am
344 Somerset Street
(506) 658-8050
Transition House - Hestia House Inc., 506 634-7570
Second Stage Housing - Safe Haven Inc., 506 632-9289
ST. STEPHEN
Warming Shelter
Hours: 8 pm to 8 am, 24 hour access
59 Union Street
506 813-5959
Transition House - Fundy Transition House, 506 466-4485
Second Stage Housing - Carol-Ann’s House, 506 466-4590
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Employers of Temporary Foreign Workers must meet specific regulations around housing.
Workers in the low-wage and primary agriculture streams
If you’re a low-wage or primary agriculture worker, your employer must ensure that adequate, suitable and affordable housing is available to you. Your employer can deduct money from your pay for housing and costs such as water and electricity. However, there are some limitations based on your program stream. See more information about the program streams below.
Workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
If you’re employed through the SAWP in New Brunswick, your employer must provide adequate housing at no cost to you.
All pay deductions should be listed in your employment agreement. Allowed deductions vary by province. If you’re from Mexico or the Caribbean, the cost of housing and utilities must be in your signed employment agreement.
Workers in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• The employer must ensure that either suitable and affordable housing is available, or provide the worker with suitable and affordable housing.
• If housing is provided, the employer should ensure that the rent for the housing facility is determined according to the market rate and should charge no more than 30% of the worker’s gross monthly earnings.
• When more than one worker is housed in the same facility, the rent should be divided equally among the foreign and Canadian workers housed in that facility.
• The temporary foreign worker is NOT required to stay in the housing provided by the employer and may choose to leave in favour of private accommodation. However, the temporary foreign worker may need to provide advance notice to the employer or the commercial establishment regarding the departure date.
Adequate housing means:
The place where you live should meet provincial/territorial and municipal legislations, including:
• be safe, healthy and free of hazards – including, free from issues like black mold and poor ventilation, garbage should be stored properly, there should not be rodent or insect infestations, etc.
• not be overcrowded
• be in good condition and protect you from the weather
• have a working fire extinguisher and smoke detectors
• have proper ventilation
• have functioning toilets, hand-washing sinks and showers that work properly and offer privacy
• have a constant supply of hot and cold drinking water
What does overcrowding mean?
According to Employment and Social Development Canada’s Housing Inspection sheet, workers should have:
• At least 7 square meters/ 75 square feet of living space per worker
• 1 shower/ 10 workers
• 1 toilet / 10 workers
• 1 bathroom sink/ 7 workers
• 1 oven or stove/ 6 workers
• 1 fridge / 6 workers
Each worker must have their own bed, unless they are a couple that wishes to share a bed.
You can find a full list of inspection items at file:///C:/Users/thega/Downloads/ESDC-EMP5598%20(7).pdf.
The Madhu Centre recognizes that the conditions above – for example, one toilet and one shower for 10 workers – are already overcrowded. The requirements for employer-provided housing need to change. This is one of the many reasons we are working for migrant justice, including housing justice. Contact us if you would like to get involved.
What if my living conditions are not up to regulations?
The Canadian government has made a list of some actions it considers abusive toward workers. This list includes employers offering housing that is unsafe or unsanitary.
For a list of examples of what is considered abuse, you can visit:
You may also be experiencing abuse that is not on this list.
We recommend that you contact our Case Worker at the Madhu Centre to discuss housing issues as your first step. Our worker can help you make a plan to let your employer know about the issues with your housing. If the employer is informed about the issues, but chooses not to improve the conditions or retaliates against you, there may be grounds for you to make an application to the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers program. This application and process can be complicated. Our Case Worker can talk to you about the whole process so that you understand if this is the right step for you.
If you have had to seek medical assistance for a respiratory illness or another condition that could be related to your housing, document these issues. Write down the steps you took to get help and the outcome. Such information may be useful as evidence for an application for the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers.
*Sections of this document are taken directly from Employment and Social Development Canada’s website, with some sections being modified. You can find a variety of program information by starting with their home page at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers.html.