Emergency Declaration Issued as Homelessness Crisis Escalates in St. Stephen

In response to a deepening homelessness crisis in the border community, the Municipal District of St. Stephen has declared a local state of emergency, taking swift action to address the urgent situation.

During an emergency special council meeting held on Monday, December 4, 2023, council unanimously approved the declaration. This decision follows the recent tragedy of a resident's death in a public space on December 2, an incident Mayor Allan MacEachern warns could become more frequent as winter weather conditions worsen.

Mayor MacEachern expressed frustration with the provincial government's failure to provide adequate resources for housing and support in St. Stephen.

"The Government of New Brunswick has failed its duties to provide adequate resources to house, support, and care for its citizens within the Municipal District of St. Stephen," he declared during the meeting.

The homelessness crisis has led to deplorable living conditions, illnesses, and fatalities among the unhoused and unsheltered individuals, putting additional strain on local public safety resources, according to MacEachern. The mayor disclosed that there are currently approximately 70 people experiencing homelessness in the community. That number could be even highter. 

In response to the crisis, the municipality has ordered the province to take immediate action, outlining a series of directives during the state of local emergency. The municipality has also demanded the province implement an emergency response with the specific goal of providing essential services to those experiencing homelessness and dealing with mental health issues, drug addiction, and criminal activities for survival during Canadian winter conditions.

St. Stephen has granted the province permission to evacuate citizens to a location where adequate care and protection can be provided.

"This is something that was not taken lightly," Mayor MacEachern emphasized. "No matter what we did, we're doing the right thing. They're human beings, and we've got to take care of them."

In response to the crisis, a group of community members is also actively working to open a warming shelter in the community to provide support to those experiencing homelessness. Although a parcel of land was identified in mid-October, subsequent developments rendered it non-viable by the province.