Fredericton Planning Committee Approves Plan for 96 Affordable Tiny Homes
FREDERICTON — The city’s Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) has given its seal of approval to an innovative affordable housing project led by former Radian6 CEO Marcel LeBrun.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, LeBrun outlined his plan for 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 committee.
LeBrun has always been interested in social justice and alleviating poverty. After Radian6 was sold to Salesforce 10 years ago, he began researching these issues in earnest. He travelled the world and produced a video series called 12 Neighbours, which is now the name of the non-profit that will develop and operate the tiny home community. That series examined efforts to address justice and poverty issues in various countries.
He also got involved in the housing and homelessness movement in Fredericton, trying to find solutions that would complement work already being done by others in the community.
He eventually realized that marginalized, low-income earners needed “dignity, community and opportunity” and that his tiny home community represented an opportunity to address all of those issues.
“It’s the most dignified model,” said LeBrun in a recent 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.”
LeBrun’s 12 Neighbours Community non-profit organization has purchased 63 acres of land on the city’s north side and will build the homes and social enterprise centres on approximately eight acres of that parcel. The proposed location is near Walmart and other amenities.
“It’s walking distance to the grocery store, the pharmacy…the hardware store and right on the bus route,” he says. “When I did a lot of primary research with the community that’s housing insecure, this place was at the top of the list, primarily because of the proximity to Walmart.”
LeBrun has had preliminary discussions with provincial officials, and the tiny home residents would be part of the province’s rent supplement program. He also hopes to access capital building programs to help with the cost of construction. His non-profit organization is investing $2-million into the construction of the homes and social enterprise centre.
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, plus a storage loft and cathedral ceiling.
LeBrun’s plan was met with support from councillors like Cassandra Blackmore and Eric Megarity.
“I am very excited about this project,” said Blackmore. “[LeBrun] put a lot of thought, time and hard work into making this project.”
Blackmore and other members voiced questions on the benefits of mixed-income housing. All members agreed that affordable housing was in high demand considering the problems of homelessness the city is facing.
“There is a diversity of housing needs and that calls for different solutions,” said PAC member Neill McKay.
After they move in, LeBrun is planning to continue to help residents of the units 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,” said LeBrun.
The plan still needs to be approved by the city council. LeBrun plans to develop the neighbourhood in phases, beginning home construction this fall and the social enterprise centre next year.
Rachel Smith is an intern for Huddle. With files from Mark Leger.
On the next “Home Office” podcast, Mark will do a feature-length interview with Marcel LeBrun about the project and the former Radian6 executive’s motivation to apply his business experience and acumen to a project like this.