The PC government plans on scrapping the housing initiative at the old Comfort Inn on Airport Road at the end of the year.
The previous Liberal government entered into a three-year $21-million lease for the old hotel back in January of 2024 to use it as transitional housing. It was quickly transformed into what is now known as Horizons 106.
The move was heavily criticized by the PCs, who were the official opposition at the time.
Last year, the Liberals issued an RFP for a program that would eventually replace Horizons 106, with the hope of having it up-and-running by this year.
Housing and Social Supports Minister Joedy Wall (VOCM News)
Housing Minister Joedy Wall says the funding for Horizons 106 will cease at the end of December.
He says staff are working on a plan for where the people who currently reside at the facility will live after December 31st through NL Housing.
Doug Pawson (Submitted)
The executive director of End Homelessness St. John’s says the fixed end date on the lease for the old Airport Comfort Inn for use as transitional housing was well known, but to learn that government will not be extending the lease through media reports did come as a surprise.
Doug Pawson says he knows the leasing arrangement was a temporary one, but a more permanent solution in the form of purpose-built housing, is not available.
“But those builds, those purpose-builds and funding, those haven’t come online yet. And the current budget for this year from a housing perspective is down about 5 per cent. We’re not seeing any ambitious goals to build more purpose-built housing for folks who are experiencing homelessness. And I think what’s really disappointing is to hear the minister say that there’s plans, but they haven’t consulted with the residents, and informed them of the future of their own lives.”
