Saint John is a rugged, working-class port city on the Bay of Fundy, shaped by shipbuilding history, fog-heavy summers, and a downtown that empties out fast after dark. It's a place with real grit and real community, where neighbors still look out for each other even as the city struggles economically. Average household income here sits around $70,000 to $75,000, but that figure hides a lot of hardship, especially in the uptown core and lower south end. A 2022 point-in-time count identified roughly 200 people experiencing homelessness in Saint John, a number local outreach workers believe has climbed since. Outflow House and the Saint John Human Development Council both work directly with people on the street, offering meals, referrals, and a place to just sit down for a while. Coverdale Centre supports women specifically, including those cycling through instability or the justice system, and the Salvation Army Community Church runs a shelter and meal program that many rely on through the winter. If you're reading this in the middle of a hard night, know that this city has people in it who have not given up on you, even if it doesn't always feel that way.
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