12 Neighbours seeks to end chronic homelessness in Fredericton with Project Zero

A new project aims to eliminate chronic homelessness in Fredericton.

12 Neighbours in Fredericton, N.B., has announced the launch of Project Zero, an initiative aimed at ending chronic homelessness not just in New Brunswick capital, but across the Maritimes.

As part of the official launch for Project Zero, 12 Neighbours announced a $1.5 million donation from Dave and Paula O’Leary of Shift Auto Group as well as Marcel and Shiela LeBrun of 12 Neighbours to go towards their “Neighbourly Home” initiative.

“We believe that permanent housing is the right answer and the right long-term solution,” says 12 Neighbours founder Marcel LeBrun. “But we need something that’s faster deployed and something that can handle helping people with a lot of complexity, substance use disorders and mental health issues and all that. So that’s where Neighbourly Homes comes in.”

Neighbourly Homes would be a fully unmanaged, low-cost, easily deployed transitional housing service in courtyard style communities with 14 individual sleeping units, as well as shared bathrooms and showers. The living units contain a small desk, a single bed and a locking door to allow residents to feel safe.

Each unit costs as low as $7,500 to construct and can be done so in a single day inside the 12 Neighbours workshop. A house within the 12 Neighbours Tiny Home Community costs $80,000 each, while the average costs for affordable housing in Canada is $350,000, according to 12 Neighbours.

The pop-up communities would have 24/7 access, staffing and wrap-around services. The entire program would be advised under a board of individuals who have experienced homelessness to ensure experience informed decisions.

One of those on the board is Richard Smith, better known as “Mayor Al” of the 12 Neighbours community. Having lived on the streets with his wife for five years before moving into the 12 Neighbours community, Smith is aware of the difference a warm bed and a place to call your own can make.

“If I look back at that now three years ago, I’m not the same person that I was then,” Smith says. “I was so down, and I felt like I could die at anytime in that tent any day. I got lucky to get in here and I just shined.”

Smith says the need for this kind of housing is not just in Fredericton, but across the region. He says he has heard from friends in St. Stephen who would love to have these types of living spaces.

Communities and municipalities interested in the initiative can reach out to 12 Neighbours to learn more.

Those who want to chip in or even supply the funds to have a unit built can do that too.

Of the $1.5 million announced Tuesday to get the project started, half of that came from Dave and Paula O’Leary of Shift Auto Group. Dave noted the $7,500 construction fee is cheaper than a new car.

“This is an incredibly inexpensive and efficient way to be able to come beside and support and help actually get somebody off the street,” says Dave O’Leary. “I would encourage anybody who can, who can even get their head around that slightly, to get a hold of Marcel and 12 Neighbors and ask them how you can help.”

While no sites for Neighbourly Homes have been picked yet, 12 Neighbours has already begun discussions with community partners and various levels of government to find locations and discuss operational funding.

12 Neighbours is hoping to have the first site ready for move in at some point this summer.

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