Rising Tide loses partner on proposed medical clinic, gets OK for 5 other buildings

Rising Tide, the Moncton affordable housing non-profit, has lost its health-care partner for a proposed medical clinic and 20-unit apartment building.

The group had planned to work with Salvus Clinic,a not-for-profit providing medical services to vulnerable people in Moncton. Rising Tide sought millions in provincialfunding for the project and wanted to formally announce the money later this month.

The plan would have seen Salvus relocate its medical facility from downtown to the new building in central Moncton. It was to offer services to residents of the building,who were expected to be some of the hardest to house people now living on the streets.

However, Salvus Clinic recently toldRising Tide its board voted not to proceed with the partnership.

"The Salvus Clinic's immediate priority is securing a new, accessible location before the end of July 2023," states theletter, obtained by CBC News, dated Feb. 21.

"Moreover, Salvus Clinic must prioritize strengthening current programs, enhancing human resources, and securing funding to ensure long-term viability. Hence, without a firm commitment from partners on additional, sustainable funding, there is no capacity for a program expansion."

Melissa Baxter, Salvus Clinic's executive director, declined an interview request last month and issued a statement Tuesday reiterating the points made in the letter.

"We will re-evaluate opportunities for partnerships in the future," Baxter said.

Dale Hicks, Rising Tide's co-founder andboard chair, said he was surprised, disappointed and perplexed when he received the letter.

"I'm waitingto hear back from the province because our position hasn't changed,"Hicks said in an interview on Tuesday.

He said the organization is still willing to construct the building, expected to cost $8 to $9 million,if funding is provided.

Hicks told CBC last month that the organization was seeking $4 to $5 million in provincial funding. He has lobbied various departments and the premier to try to secure funding.

Hicks, who initially outlined the plan in2021, spoke again about the plans at a December news conference held by business groups.

He told the audience, whichincluded MLAs and at least one provincial cabinet minister, that hewould book the same hotel conference room for March 20where he hoped to announce the funding.

CBC News has requested comment from the province's departments of Health and Social Development.

5 other buildings planned

Rising Tidereceived $15.4 million from thefederal,provincialandmunicipalgovernments over three years to supply 160 units to reduce homelessness in the city.It has opened80 unitsso far, with seven more expected by month's end.

It received approval from Moncton's planning advisory committee last month for five more eight-unit buildings in various locations around the municipality.

Hicks, in an interviewafter the Feb. 22 committee meeting, said work would start on the first building in May.

The five buildings will have similar designs. Construction starts will be staggered and contractors will move from one to the other.

"By August, September, all five projects will be being worked on simultaneously,being constructed, and the first one issupposed to start in May, and the first unit is targeted for completion, I think, in late fall," Hicks said.

"Then you're going to start to see two weeks later here's another one. So between, I'll say the the middle of November to the middle of January, those five properties will be occupied."

The completion of all five would bring the organization's total units to 127 in early 2024. Its target is160 target by the end of March 2024.

Hicks said Rising Tide owns other properties where it plans more buildings.