96 Affordable Tiny Homes Approved by Fredericton City Council
FREDERICTON — With his non-for-profit 12 Neighbours, Marcel LeBrun plans to get at least six people off the streets and into new homes by Christmas. But this is just the start of a project that will transform the lives of homeless and marginalized low-income earners in Fredericton.
LeBrun and his team got unanimous approval from Fredericton City Council at their Tuesday night meeting. The non-profit plans to build 96 units and a community center on the Two Nations Crossing on the north side.
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In an interview, LeBrun said that everyone on the council understands the urgent need for housing in the city.
“They’re really excited about the innovation around the approach that we’re taking,” said LeBrun. “[We’re] not just providing housing, but working to provide a very dignified context.”
LeBrun is focused on giving his residents a sense of community and opportunities to overcome employment barriers, with a social enterprise centre as a central feature of the development.
“We’re not just giving people kind of relief from their circumstances, but we’re actually trying to help people develop,” said LeBrun. “I think council is excited about that.”
The next step is securing building permits from the city.
The director of community for LeBrun’s non-profit began work yesterday. He will work on the intake process and collaborate with other housing non-profits.
The first homes are being built off-site. Six will move in by Christmas and six more in the spring.
“Our plan is to build 12 homes this fiscal year, so between now and March 31st,” said LeBrun.
When the project is complete, LeBrun says there will be 96 tiny homes and 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 want a place where people will want to come and engage,” said LeBrun in his presentation to the Planning Advisory Committee last month.
He says marginalized, low-income earners needed “dignity, community and opportunity” and that his tiny home community represented an opportunity to address all of those issues.
PODCAST: Marcel LeBrun On His Plan To Build 96 ‘Tiny Homes’ In Fredericton
“It’s the most dignified model,” said LeBrun in a recent podcast interview. “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.”
Rachel Smith is an intern for Huddle. With files from Mark Leger.