New Brunswick·NewThe City of Edmundston hopes an out-of-the-cold shelter will open on Saint-François Street on Dec. 1 and serve the local homeless population until April. 18-bed shelter for homeless people could open Dec. 1Oliver Pearson · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 31 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.If approved, Edmundston’s first out-of-the-cold shelter would be in a former Department of Transportation and Infrastructure property on Rue Saint-François. (Submitted by Isabelle Laplante)Edmundston is hoping to open its first out-of-the-cold shelter that will provide beds, bathrooms and showers to the northwestern New Brunswick city. Mayor Eric Marquis said homelessness becoming more visible in Edmundston.“We see more and more people that don’t necessarily have a shelter for the winter period,” Marquis said.He said a member of the Edmundston police has been working with the homeless population for the past year and has met people who have gone without shelter for years.Marquis estimated that about 10 to 15 people are without a place to stay each night.The shelter, which is awaiting zoning approval from the city’s planning advisory committee, will have 18 beds.It will be open at 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. each day and will be staffed by at least two people as well as security.According to the municipality’s website, the shelter might be open during the day during extreme weather.Each person who wants to stay will be asked to register on arrival, then get a sleeping bag, cot, and access to a bathroom, including a shower. Snacks and drinks will also be provided.The project is a collaboration with the Department of Social Development, which is providing $375,000 for the renovations and operations, according to Isabelle Laplante, who is working on the project.The committee will hold a public meeting and vote on the proposal on Wednesday.Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis is expecting the planning advisory committee to approve the city’s first out-of-the-cold shelter. (Radio-Canada)“We believe that the board will go forward on approving this temporary site,” said Marquis.If the vote is successful, Marquis said the shelter should open on Dec. 1 after some renovations and would stay open into April.The shelter will be in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s former office on Rue Saint-François, which has been vacant for a few weeks.Marquis said the community was notified on Wednesday about the shelter and there have been some concerns.“We have had some contact from people that are around. Naturally they have some questions that they’re asking on different issues like security.”Marquis said there is also a possibility for a year-round shelter after this winter.“We’re hoping in the future is that we could have something more permanent and also that we can have one of our partners that could take over.”ABOUT THE AUTHOROliver Pearson is a reporter at CBC New Brunswick. He can be reached at oliver.pearson@cbc.caWith files from Shift
Edmundston works to launch city’s first out-of-the-cold shelter
