No matter how big or little, there are homeless individuals everywhere in the world. Governments, non-governmental organisations, and other groups are fighting it, but nothing has changed. This billionaire Canadian decided to give his money away to support the destitute in his hometown. That’s what he carried out.
A millionaire from Fredericton, New Brunswick, constructs 99 tiny houses to aid the homeless and provide employment.
In Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, a wealthy businessman has taken an incredible initiative to assist the homeless population in his downtown area. Marcel LeBrun used $4 million of his personal funds to construct 99 tiny houses for the underprivileged. He founded a prosperous business that keeps an eye on social media. With his innovative approach, he not only discovered a reliable and secure means to house people, but he also made work available. Come along as we uncover more about Marcel LeBrun’s endeavour, 12 Neighbours.
How Twelve Neighbours Originated
Following the sale of his company for a large sum of money, LeBrun decided to put his newfound prosperity to good use. Observing that there were many homeless individuals in Fredericton, he came up with the idea of creating a neighbourhood of tiny dwellings that would provide a second chance at life. The project, which he named 12 Neighbours, aimed to construct a 99-home gated community and a commercial centre that would supply both housing and employment.
Attending to a Crucial Issue
About 1,600 people in New Brunswick experienced homelessness for at least one day in the previous year, demonstrating how widespread the problem is. Larger American cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York are known to have a disproportionately high number of homeless persons living there. Marcel LeBrun saw an opportunity to support and improve the lives of those going through this difficult moment.
Creating a Community
LeBrun’s goals for 12 Neighbours go beyond simply constructing tiny houses. He aspires to be a good community leader and seeks to improve the quality of life in the neighbourhood. Tiny houses are complete living areas with kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, complete bathrooms, and even solar panels mounted on the roofs—they are more than just someplace to sleep.
Building the homes
To realise his ambition, LeBrun established a factory where talented labourers assembled the houses. The business employs state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques to produce one tiny house every four workdays. After construction, the homes are carefully placed atop concrete blocks, which serve as the foundation of the neighbourhood.
The Effects of Owning Something
According to Marcel LeBrun, giving those who have experienced homelessness a sense of responsibility and security is greatly enhanced by home ownership. 12 Neighbours wants to empower its members and create a community where people support one another by allowing them to own their own homes.
The significance of jobs
LeBrun’s concept intends to provide employment opportunities for its residents in addition to housing. In the business heart of the building, there is a coffee shop and a silk printing company owned by the residents of 12 Neighbours. This company concept fosters interpersonal connections amongst residents of the area and the larger community in addition to making money.
Arguments and critiques
As with any major undertaking, 12 Neighbours has been the target of criticism. Some argue that reintegrating impoverished individuals into society as soon as possible is preferable to locking them up. However, LeBrun has taken action to ensure the safety and well-being of the community because he is aware of the potential issues.
The amount of red tape involved in constructing four dwellings is equally as difficult as that of constructing ten or twenty. Our goal was to at least partially address the issue in Fredericton. Regarding his strategy in contrast to a decentralised one, LeBrun stated, “We need to build some houses if we want to make a real difference.” “Suppose I take a homeless person and give them the best flat in the city for free for ten years.” Can they accomplish it? Their neighbourhood is not that one. That isn’t how things are where they are from.
Maintaining Community Safety
Marcel LeBrun understands how crucial it is to keep everyone secure, which is why he installed state-of-the-art security measures in the 12 Neighbours area. The neighbourhood offers its residents a secure environment to live in with guarded entrances and excellent security.
“Others move in and say, ‘Hey, you owe me this, you owe me that,'” when the resident moves in. It’s a struggle for the resident to grasp what it means to be in charge of a place where they make all the decisions about who comes and goes after they take over. LeBrun discussed some of the local residents’ issues with CBC.