Fredericton

Fredericton is New Brunswick's capital, a quieter river city built around government offices, the university, and old brick streets that stay pretty walkable even in winter. It's not a big place, and that means people tend to know each other, for better and worse. Average household income here sits around $85,000 a year, though that number hides a lot of people getting by on far less. A 2022 point-in-time count identified over 190 people experiencing homelessness in Fredericton, and outreach workers will tell you the real number on the ground is higher, especially with how tight the rental market has gotten. Front Line Shelter Fredericton and the Fredericton Homeless Shelters run overnight beds when the cold really sets in, and the Community Kitchen and Grace Village Bible Chapel's outreach programs are places to find a meal without a lot of questions asked. The John Howard Society also does good work for anyone who's dealt with the justice system and needs a hand getting stable. You're not invisible here, even on the hardest nights — people in this city do notice, and there are doors that will open if you knock.