The government has approved $7.4 million in emergency funding to establish a conditional grant program for non-profit housing providers so they can support people experiencing homelessness.

The funding will be used by the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, in collaboration with the Department of Social Development, to establish the Supportive Housing Emergency Grant. Money will be distributed to eligible community non-profit housing providers to create bridge and supportive housing, or to maintain shelters at risk.

"Funding these projects through the grant program leverages community capacity and it allows us to move quickly in our efforts to reduce homelessness," said David Hickey, minister responsible for the corporation and chair of a ministerial task force on homelessness. "We've been working on this Housing First project for months, and this will align with our efforts in the task force to help those in need."

Corporation staff are in discussions with several community partners to identify "shovel-ready" projects or acquisitions that are in advanced stages of planning and development but need additional funding to be completed. Many of those projects are nearly ready to launch, and more details will be available when they are finalized.

Once these projects are up and running, additional funding will be used to establish supports to meet the needs of the new tenants.

"Community agencies will provide supportive housing with wraparound services to meet the complex needs of the people who'll benefit from these services, which will provide the best opportunities for success," said Social Development Minister Cindy Miles, who is also a member of the task force.

The ministerial task force on homelessness is working on a multi-year plan to lower the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness by 40 per cent by 2029.