The New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton. (Image: Brad Perry)
Long-term care facilities, emergency shelters and child welfare programs are receiving help from the provincial and federal governments.
The province announced $15.2 million Thursday through the Safe Restart Agreement to help vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19.
“Especially during the pandemic, the department is dedicated to protecting the people who most need our help,” said Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch in a statement. “We are pleased to invest more to ensure better protection and services.”
About $10.5 million will go to nursing homes and adult residential facilities, while emergency shelters will receive about $1.2 million.
Roughly $3.7 million will go toward group homes, foster homes, respite services and youth engagement services.
The department said the funding will help it expand various initiatives, such as creating isolation wings in nursing homes; infection prevention and control training; creating workforce stability plans for care providers; registries for personal support workers; and helping shelters with increased costs.
According to the province, the objective of the agreement is to ensure provinces and territories have the resources needed to reopen the economy while keeping Canadians safe, with a focus on immediate needs in the next six to eight months.
