WHAT WE DO
A base for safe passage
An Integrated Service Hub for St. Stephen and surrounding area
Transitional Housing
Community Dinners
Outreach Services
Youth Launch
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
Children placed in care by the province must leave that care before their 19th birthday. But they can choose to leave any time after their 16th birthdays, and some do.
Many are not ready for independent living or find life unmanageable with no support at all. Young people have continued in school or gone on to university or college but found their circumstances too difficult to navigate with no support or encouragement, and no one to go home to. As well, many still lack basic personal habits and awareness to secure or hold a job.
Transitional Housing helps bridge that gap. Youth have a supervised place to live as they work on specific goals, acquire personal skills, and deepen their self-awareness and resilience. They become more focussed, goal oriented, competent, and confident.
Transitional Housing makes it more likely they can succeed in their education or employment, and more likely they can chart a course to attain the goals they set for themselves.
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In Transitional HousingThe Transitional Housing service follows principles honed elsewhere in the province, notably by Youth Impact Jeunesse in Moncton over the past 18 years. The program operates with a high degree of collaboration with other agencies, civic authorities, and police, who see Transitional Housing as a powerful asset in the life of the community.
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Not everyone qualifiesLiving here is a voluntary commitment; each youth must choose to be with us. Admission is not automatic. Youth must apply, be interviewed about their goals, and sign a Participant Agreement - a written contract confirming expectations and their level of commitment.
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Driven by goals and a planEach young person is helped to set personal goals and make a plan to accomplish them, to develop skills making it more likely they will succeed as independent adults. Each one meets regularly with a staff member to review their plan and progress, for encouragement, direction, and as a means of accountability. Staff are always reachable to assist the young people beyond planned meeting times. Other services are available within the on-site hub that is shared by the community.
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Youth must do the work to stayA young person can live in Transitional Housing for between three months to one year. After the third month, each participant must apply to stay longer. They must demonstrate willingness, effort, and commitment to continue progress on the evolving goals in their plan.
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Taking responsibility from the startEach young person has a private locked room with a full-size refrigerator. There is a small common kitchen for basic cooking on a shared basis. Washrooms are shared. Youths are responsible for their own food: neither groceries nor meals are provided. Youths do their own laundry. House rules related to cleanliness, behaviour, treatment of others are enforced.
COMMUNITY DINNERS
For generations, people have met over a meal for conversation and companionship. At Neighbourhood Works, we offer a community meal twice a week on Tuesday and Thursdays from 5:00-6:00 PM.
Our hope is that our Community Meal will lessen social barriers, provide a nutritious meal, and bring our community closer together. With a collaborative approach, we served 18,312 meals from July 14, 2022, to July 14, 2023.
We are able to provide these meals with the help of over 200 volunteers, including 9 churches, many businesses, schools, sports teams, and organizations. We could not do this without them!
If you or your group, would like to become involved in our community dinner either through volunteering, sponsoring or preparing a meal please email info@neighbourhoodworks.org
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OUTREACH SERVICES
Unsheltered Outreach Services
Neighbourhood Works Outreach Services build ongoing trusting relationships with the unsheltered communities in St. Stephen NB and Charlotte County. Using a Harm Reduction approach, with an ethos of respect, dignity, care and compassion for all, the intent is to better the lives of the individuals we serve. Outreach services include, but are not limited to, assistance and advocacy in: acquiring new government ID, receiving harm reduction information and supplies, leaving unsafe living situations, accessing mental health support, receiving information on recovery, finding permanent housing, registering for detox, entering long-term recovery programs, recovery referrals, engaging in part-time and full-time work, attending out-of-town medical appointments and court dates and providing emergency supplies (food, hydration and warmth). Our ultimate goal is to reduce homelessness, and the suffering that goes along with it, in our region.
Youth Outreach Services
Youth outreach involves working with a dynamic and varied youth community aged 16-22, to set a trajectory leading to success and stability. We help youth navigate the world of adulthood, with all it’s programs, housing and paperwork, and community relationships. We hope to help young people meet basic needs, and reach beyond survival to gain housing, employment, and education.
YOUTH LAUNCH
The Youth Launch Program provides Case Management and training support to assist vulnerable youth in our community to attain their education and/or employment goals. Our main objective is to help youth manage or eliminate the barriers they are currently facing, successfully transition to adulthood and build positive momentum in their lives.
Program training and learning components include:
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Workplace Essential Skills
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Academic Upgrading
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Money Management
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Computer Literacy Skills
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Mental Health Coping Skills
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Workplace Job Shadowing
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Youth Leadership
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Entrepreneurship
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Empowerment Networking
THE LODGE - HOMELESS HUB
A residential care service that is housing-focused and integrated with outreach services, prevention, and diversion programs. We are committed to supporting the autonomy and wellness of vulnerable adults with kindness, compassion, respect, and community engagement.
Location
9 Main Street, St. Stephen, NB
Service Timeline
December 2024 - April 2025 - Out of the Cold
May 2025 - Onward - Long-term Homeless Hub, including a shelter
Facility Features
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24/7 operation
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Ages 18+, Co-ed facility, Gender-inclusive
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20 beds
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Three meals per day provided for those precariously housed or homeless
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Access to shower and laundry facilities
Community-Based Site Management:
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A personalized, evidence-based team approach
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Housing First model
Outreach Services:
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Assistance with eligibility benefits, financial support, housing, food, and first aid resources.
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In Transitional HousingThe Transitional Housing service follows principles honed elsewhere in the province, notably by Youth Impact Jeunesse in Moncton over the past 18 years. The program operates with a high degree of collaboration with other agencies, civic authorities, and police, who see Transitional Housing as a powerful asset in the life of the community.
-
Not everyone qualifiesLiving here is a voluntary commitment; each youth must choose to be with us. Admission is not automatic. Youth must apply, be interviewed about their goals, and sign a Participant Agreement - a written contract confirming expectations and their level of commitment.
-
Driven by goals and a planEach young person is helped to set personal goals and make a plan to accomplish them, to develop skills making it more likely they will succeed as independent adults. Each one meets regularly with a staff member to review their plan and progress, for encouragement, direction, and as a means of accountability. Staff are always reachable to assist the young people beyond planned meeting times. Other services are available within the on-site hub that is shared by the community.
-
Youth must do the work to stayA young person can live in Transitional Housing for between three months to one year. After the third month, each participant must apply to stay longer. They must demonstrate willingness, effort, and commitment to continue progress on the evolving goals in their plan.
-
Taking responsibility from the startEach young person has a private locked room with a full-size refrigerator. There is a small common kitchen for basic cooking on a shared basis. Washrooms are shared. Youths are responsible for their own food: neither groceries nor meals are provided. Youths do their own laundry. House rules related to cleanliness, behaviour, treatment of others are enforced.
If the struggle to survive makes the future seem dark, our neighbourhood says “Come in - we're building a better future together.”