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The Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) is excited to announce the launch of a transformative Innovation Challenge aimed at supporting housing retention for individuals transitioning from homelessness to stable housing in Moncton. This Innovation Challenge, which launched at the end of July and will run for 100 days, brings together key stakeholders to address critical health and support needs through innovative and collaborative approaches.

“We are delighted to spearhead this initiative in collaboration with a diverse group of community organizations, provincial government bodies, academia and healthcare professionals,” said Katie Davey, Executive Director of the PDC. “The Housing Retention Challenge is a unique opportunity to drive real, measurable progress in housing retention and support services for the community of Moncton and beyond.”

The need for this project began with the nursing faculty contacting Mayor Dawn Arnold to help the city with the housing crisis's impact on health care. Mayor Dawn Arnold and Dean Lorna Butler have championed this initiative leading to the 100-day challenge. The challenge started with a launch workshop July 30 to 31 in Moncton, where participants set their goals and developed a comprehensive work plan. Participants, spanning the non-profit sector, healthcare, academia and various government departments such as Social Development and the Department of Health, as well as Addictions & Mental Health specialists, were recruited for their expertise on the issue of homelessness.

The 100-Day Challenge is driven by an overarching question which asks, “How might we address the diverse and urgent needs of individuals transiting from homelessness to ensure their long-term well-being and the sustainability of their housing situation?”

At the launch, participants formed streams addressing three critical focus areas: addressing stigma to support access to long-term housing and healthcare; a supported workforce - supporting workers who work with those transitioning to housing; and a connected system - a system that is aligned in addressing the diverse needs of individuals transitioning from homelessness.

Over the next 100 days, participants will work to achieve their goals and scale a prototype that can be implemented in Moncton to support housing retention.

“The PDC has brought the right people together to move our vision for a healthy community forward,” said Dr Butler.

This is now the PDC’s second 100-Day Challenge, a methodology developed by Re-Institute. The Centre used this methodology to run a 100-Day Challenge on Immigration & Construction, which wrapped up in June. This challenge focused on empowering New Brunswick’s construction sector to harness immigration as a tool to fill its labour shortages and address the province’s rapidly growing population and housing needs. The first 100-Day Challenge was an enormous success, and it is already seeing impact through tangible solutions put forward by the participants, key stakeholders and community partners.

This project was made possible by the UNB faculty of nursing, City of Moncton and the Northpine Foundation.

“The Housing Retention Challenge is an exciting endeavor that aligns with our commitment to drive meaningful social change,” added Rebecca McSheffery, the PDC’s Director of Innovation and NouLAB. “By working together across sectors, we aim to create lasting improvements in housing retention and support services in Moncton.”

For additional information about the Housing Retention Challenge and its objectives, contact rebecca.mcsheffery@unb.ca.

About the Pond-Deshpande Centre

The Pond Deshpande Centre (PDC) is New Brunswick’s social innovation partner of choice. Founded at the University of New Brunswick in 2012 with a visionary donation from entrepreneurs Gerry Pond and Gururaj and Jaishree Deshpande, PDC uses social innovation and social entrepreneurship as tools to address and help solve some of society’s most pressing challenges. We develop inclusive workforces, invigorate civic innovation and create more just economic systems. Fundamentally, we bring people together to solve complex problems.

Media contact

Kathleen McLaughlin
Media Relations Strategist
University of New Brunswick
talktous@unb.ca 

Esther Ibang
Communications & Events Officer
Pond-Deshpande Centre
University of New Brunswick
esther.ibang@unb.ca 

Photo: Dr. Butler provides opening remarks to the participants at the launch workshop of the Innovation Challenge on July 30 at the Crowne Plaza in Moncton.