Abbey Ridge expands to Sydney
AUDIO: New Dawn’s Director of Youth and Family Care joins CBC Radio host Wendy Bergfeldt to talk about Abbey Ridge and the need for supportive youth housing in Sydney.
New Dawn is expanding its Abbey Ridge supportive housing program with a new seven-bed home in Sydney, creating more safe, stable and supportive housing for youth ages 16 to 24.
The new housing residence comes in response to significant and ongoing demand for supportive youth housing in the community. Abbey Ridge’s two existing locations provide a total of 13 beds, which have remained consistently occupied, while the program continues to receive new referrals and maintain a wait list. Expected to open in November 2026, the Sydney location will bring Abbey Ridge’s total capacity to 20 youth.
Larissa Rodriguez, New Dawn’s Director of Youth and Family Care, joined CBC Radio’s Mainstreet Cape Breton host, Wendy Bergfeldt, to talk about the expansion and how important this housing is for youth.
“When it comes to safe and stable housing, it is one of the most basic foundations a young person needs to thrive. Unfortunately, for many youth, having a safe place to call home is not guaranteed,” Rodriguez said.
“Family conflict and breakdown, poverty, involvement with the child welfare system, mental health, substance use challenges, discrimination, and a lack of affordable housing can all contribute to a young person experiencing homelessness or significant housing instability.”
The new location will serve youth who meet Abbey Ridge’s existing eligibility requirements and will follow the same supportive housing model as its other homes. Like all Abbey Ridge locations, the Sydney home will be 2SLGBTQ+-inclusive and affirming, ensuring youth have a safe, welcoming and supportive place to live.
“The goal of having the location in Sydney is to be able to keep youth in their community so they’re not experiencing more trauma by uprooting their lives and moving to a different community and losing that sense of belonging to their friends, the family members they’re still in contact with, as well as their schools,” Rodriguez said.
The location will also place residents close to the New Dawn Centre and Anchor Youth Space Sydney, creating opportunities to connect youth with a broader network of services and supports.
The new Sydney home is currently under construction and expected to welcome its first residents in November.
Learn more about Abbey Ridge here.
Listen to the full interview on Mainstreet Cape Breton here.
