Feds Pledge $1.5-Million To Affordable Tiny Home Community In Fredericton
FREDERICTON—The federal government announced today it will put more than a million dollars behind an affordable housing project in Fredericton.
The project, spearheaded by former Radian6 CEO Marcel LeBrun, will see 96 tiny homes built on 63 acres of land on the city’s north side.
Through his non-for-profit 12 Neighbours Community, LeBrun and his partners hope to create a “dignified model” for affordable housing.
Each home will be 10 feet by 24 feet and have a covered front deck, bathroom, kitchen, sleeping accommodations for one or two people, a living and dining area.
The community will also have a social enterprise center that will include a cafe, retail shop, offices, and community spaces.
Residents will have access to drug treatment programs, job skills and entrepreneurial training programs, and counselling support services.
“I’ve got my own four walls, my own lock and key, my own lawn, my own private space, but I also have community because I have all of this shared green space with me and my neighbours. And then I have opportunity, which is the social enterprise centre because I can learn skills, I can in a patient work environment to achieve my goals,” LeBrun told Huddle in a recent interview.
RELATED: Fredericton Planning Committee Approves Plan for 96 Affordable Tiny Homes
January 6, the federal government said it will contribute $1,440,000 to the project in the form of a forgivable loan. The loan will be administered through the Affordable Rental Housing Program.
On top of money to build the homes, the program will also provide rent supplements for each of the 36 units in the project’s first phase.
That will allow 12 Neighbours to ensure those tenants don’t pay more than 30 percent of their total household income towards rent.
LeBrun told Huddle that, after tenants move in, 12 Neighbours plans to help them overcome employment barriers and develop new skills. This will involve a volunteer support network and paid community support staff.
“We are going to have a wealth of volunteers that can help as well, but you can only do so much as volunteers, you have to have staff that are there,” he said.
Fredericton’s Planning Advisory Committee approved the 12 Neighbours development in October and work has already begun on the project.
In Dec. 23 update posted to 12 Neighbours’ Facebook page, LeBrun showcases the infrastructure work that’s been finished on the site in preparation for the tiny homes he says will be moved to the property shortly.
Trevor Nichols is the associate editor of Huddle, based in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].