Community mourns dozens who died struggling with homelessness, addiction this year [video]

Content warning: This report contains details about suicide and drug addiction. 

At least 47 people died while homeless, vulnerably housed, or struggling with addiction over the past year in Moncton, according to community members who organized a memorial service to mark their passing.

Dozens of people gathered for the solemn event in Victoria Park, near downtown Moncton, on Wednesday afternoon. Names of the deceased were read over a loudspeaker one-by-one, and people affixed paper leaves bearing those names to the branches of a tree.

Local resident John Renton, part of a grassroots group called the Ragged People, which helps support homeless people in Moncton, paid tribute to friends who died from overdose and suicide.

“The invasiveness of illicit drugs is both cause and effect of the countless number of those suffering on our streets today,” he told the crowd, which included staff from various social agencies and community members, some of whom wept during the service.

Renton called for an end to stigma affecting people struggling with poverty, drugs, and homelessness. “I’m glad to see a good turnout of people, the media coverage, just anything to stop stigma and bring attention to the crisis is a big deal,” he told the NB Media Co-op.

Rev. Chris VanBuskirk of St. George’s Anglican Church — an inner-city church that provides hot meals and other services from its basement — presided over the service, which also included reflections from community members, music performed by guitarist and singer Jeremy Reid, and readings from scripture.

VanBuskirk cited the official figure, but acknowledged that the true number might be higher. In 2023, at least 55 people died in conditions of homelessness and addiction, compared to at least 23 people the previous year.

“This takes a great toll obviously on families, but also on frontline workers and on volunteers who really become close with those that they’re working with,” he said. “Obviously, it takes a great toll on friends.”

He said that efforts to get people into stable housing have improved with the introduction of the so-called Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), software that helps various social agencies and government departments to coordinate the provision of services.

But he called for more people in the community to lend a helping hand. “We need neighbours and friends… beyond the experts, just each one of us knowing that we can do something,” he said.

Shannon Barry, senior director of outreach with YMCA of Greater Moncton, said there’s been significant progress over the past year in terms of getting people from shelters or encampments into stable housing. But she acknowledged that it’s a struggle amid an ongoing shortage of affordable housing coupled with the drug overdose crisis.

“Unfortunately, our numbers just keep growing and it’s hard to stay on top of things or keep up with the inflow that we’re experiencing, especially with our low vacancy rates in Moncton, but there is progress happening,” Barry said.

Asked what needs to change, she noted that housing is a key aspect of people’s recovery process. “Sixty per cent of the loss that we had this year was due to accidental overdose,” Barry said. “So housing and addressing our toxic drug supply are definitely the ones that would have the most impact on folks that we work with day in and day out.”

Emergency support resources

If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless, having thoughts of suicide, or if you’re worried about someone else, help is available. Here are some resources:

If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency services number: dial 911.

If you need emotional support, consider reaching out to services such as crisis or suicide hotlines, some of which offer 24/7 support:

Suicide crisis helpline: 9-8-8
Chimo Helpline: 1-800-667-5005
Mobile Crisis Unit (Horizon Health Network)
Mobile Crisis Response Services (Réseau de santé Vitalité)

Clarification: The Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee states that at least 47 people died while homeless, vulnerably housed, or struggling with addiction in Moncton in 2024. An earlier version of this report indicated that at least 51 people had died, as stated during the memorial service. However, that figure included six people who died in 2023, according to the GMHSC. Two more people died in 2024 following the memorial service, bringing the total to 47. This report was updated on Jan. 21, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

David Gordon Koch is a journalist with the NB Media Co-op. Robert MacKay is an anti-poverty organizer and a volunteer with the NB Media Co-op. This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).