Coldest Night of the Year - John Howard Society of Fredericton

06/10/2026

This is why we walk. When you give families support, kids thrive, and kids can do kid things!

05/06/2026

This is why we walk. These services are crucial to our community and the clients served by them.

The John Howard Society of Fredericton is grateful to the City of Fredericton and the Government of Canada for the funding and support of our Overnight Outreach program over the past year.

Overnight Outreach provides mobile, overnight support (7 PM–7 AM, seven days a week) to individuals experiencing homelessness. Since launching in May 2025, the team has delivered 4,497 client interactions, averaging 17 clients per night and 410 interactions per month.

Core services include distributing food, water, and supplies; providing hygiene and first aid kits; offering naloxone and overdose response; transportation to services; housing support; and mental health and crisis intervention.

Over the year, the team distributed thousands of essential items (including 5,000+ snacks, 2,200+ water bottles, and 550+ meals), completed 40+ housing intakes, and provided 20+ client transports. They also responded to 15+ overdoses and 48 community calls.

The program primarily serves male clients (63%), with 32% female and 2% non-binary, and 26% identifying as Indigenous. Overall, the initiative plays a critical role in bridging service gaps overnight—offering immediate support, safety, and pathways to housing for some of the community’s most vulnerable individuals.

Although government funding concluded at the end of March 2026, the generous support of our community donors has allowed us to extend the service for an additional five months. The program will continue to operate from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., Tuesday through Sunday. During this period, we will remain focused on securing a long-term funding partner to sustain the program into the future.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported Overnight Outreach. It is making a real difference in our community.

04/24/2026

This week, members of our Outreach Team visited Hanwell Park Academy and Nashwaaksis Middle School to thank students for their incredible efforts fundraising for Coldest Night of the Year, and to share more about how the Outreach Team supports people experiencing homelessness in our community.

A heartfelt thank you to the amazing students and teachers whose generosity and commitment make this work possible—we’re so grateful for your support!

03/26/2026

Our Outreach Team is now attending Wednesday at Wilmot! Wednesday at Wilmot is an outreach program of Wilmot United Church, and "is open to anyone in need of encouragement and assistance. There are no requirements to prove low income or to attend church and there are no religious aspects to the program. Everyone who attends is valued and all receive a warm welcome in a supportive environment."

We are happy to participate in Wednesday at Wilmot and appreciate the invitation to serve the community in this way.

Learn more about Wednesday at Wilmot at: https://www.wilmotuc.nb.ca/wednesdays-at-wilmot