Expanded Transitional Housing and Enhanced Supports Strengthen Homelessness Response at Northern Pines

24 new transitional housing units and expanded 24/7 shelter services coming to the site

The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) is providing an update on homelessness services at Northern Pines, highlighting the opening of expanded transitional housing, continued accessible 24/7 Low-Barrier Shelter services, and enhanced on-site supports designed to help individuals move forward.

Effective August 31, 2026, Northern Pines Phase 3 will open as transitional housing, creating 24 staff-supported transitional housing units for the community. Transitional housing provides individuals with private living spaces and access to supports that help them work toward long-term housing goals.

At the same time, accessible Low-Barrier Shelter services will continue to operate on a 24/7 basis through expanded facilities at the Northern Pines site. Shelter and transitional housing services are delivered by Crisis Centre North Bay and remain an essential component of the District's homelessness response, ensuring individuals have a safe place to access support at any time of day. The accessible facilities include dedicated sleeping accommodations and a separate daytime programming area, creating additional opportunities for individuals to connect with services including housing supports throughout the day.

Northern Pines continues to bring together a range of coordinated services in one location, including shelter services, transitional housing, housing-focused supports, income support, Community Paramedicine Program services, and 24/7 on-site security. This integrated approach helps reduce barriers to service, improves coordination between providers, and allows individuals to access multiple forms of support in a familiar and supportive environment.

"This is about creating more opportunities for people to move forward," said Mark King, DNSSAB Board Chair. "By bringing shelter services, housing supports, health services, and transitional housing together in one location, we're seeing how the right supports at the right time can make a real difference in someone's life. Homelessness is a complex issue, and meaningful progress often happens one person at a time. We're proud of the progress being made at Northern Pines, and every person who moves from crisis toward greater stability reminds us why this work matters. We're grateful to the staff, service providers, and community partners who help make that progress possible every day."

Recent examples highlight the positive impact of coordinated services and community partnerships at Northern Pines.

This summer, Northern Pines has continued to benefit from its partnership with Clean Green Beautiful North Bay. Through generous donations, the site's gardens are flourishing with vegetables, berries, flowers, and shrubs. Residents have taken pride in maintaining the gardens and are enjoying fresh produce as part of weekly meals, creating opportunities to build skills, foster community connections, and promote healthy living.

Earlier this summer, a young person arrived at Northern Pines seeking emergency shelter. During the intake process, a Resource Worker identified concerns for the individual's immediate safety and contacted the North Bay Police Service. Through this collaborative response, the youth was connected to a safe environment. Northern Pines learned that their early intervention played an important role in ensuring the individual's safety and well-being, demonstrating the value of strong partnerships and timely intervention.

A long-term Northern Pines resident recently celebrated a meaningful personal milestone. After maintaining their room since November 2025 and carefully saving their money, the individual was able to purchase a bicycle. Reliable transportation has made it easier to attend appointments, access community resources, and spend time outdoors, all of which have contributed positively to their mental well-being. They are also excited about the opportunity to transition into a permanent space within the Northern Pines Transitional Housing program, another important step toward long-term housing stability and independence.

Northern Pines is also seeing positive outcomes for individuals working toward housing stability. Recently, a former resident who had experienced chronic homelessness returned to share an update after leaving the shelter several months ago. The individual had secured stable housing and was actively engaging with local mental health and substance use services to support their continued wellness.

They expressed gratitude for the support they received at Northern Pines and pride in the progress they had made on their housing journey. “We welcome these new supported transitional housing units as part of the continuum of housing at Northern Pines,” said Sue Rinneard, Executive Director of Crisis Centre North Bay. “People experience homelessness for many complex reasons, including unaffordable rent, trauma, mental health challenges, and addictions.

At Northern Pines, we have seen residents improve their health, strengthen their well-being, and regain a sense of hope—important steps in interrupting the cycle of chronic homelessness. During a recent visit, one occupant shared that Northern Pines had saved their life. With these additional transitional housing beds, we look forward to supporting more vulnerable individuals on their path toward stability.”

While the expansion of transitional housing and enhanced supports at Northern Pines represents important progress, DNSSAB continues to advocate for sustainable, long term funding from both the provincial and federal governments. Demand for homelessness services remains significant across the District, and continued investment is essential to address increasingly complex needs and ensure individuals experiencing homelessness can access the supports required to move forward.

DNSSAB remains committed to working with service providers, municipalities, community partners, and residents to address homelessness through a balanced approach that prioritizes safety, dignity, housing stability, and community well-being.