A triumphant announcement was made Monday for Saint John’s homelessness and housing crisis.
Up to 80 affordable tiny homes are planned to be built on the city’s east side, officials said during an announcement.
The Sunnyside Tiny Home community is a partnership between local business leaders Steve Belyea and David Alston, Saint John Energy, United Way Saint John, Kings & Charlotte and Fredericton’s 12 Neighbours community.
Alston stated the community will be located on Sunnyside Avenue off Westmorland Road and will sit between Fernhill Cemetery and the new Saint John Energy substation.
He added it is a prime location due to the proximity of a bus route, grocery stores and jobs.
“The development will also include a community building, which will have room for staff as well as wrap-around services that the community members can use on site,” said Alston.
A rendered image of the Sunnyside Community. Image: Katie Bowden.
United Way Saint John, Kings & Charlotte is set to acquire the property and will function as the community’s operating agency.
This commitment comes on the heels of the recent merger of seven United Way organizations in the Maritime provinces, resulting in the launch of a new regional housing division that will cater to the needs of central and southwestern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and mainland Nova Scotia.
Saint John Energy President and CEO Ryan Mitchell said a portion of their land between East Point Way and Fernhill Cemetery will be donated to the project along with refurbished heat pumps for all the homes in the community.
“We believe that when businesses and organizations come together for the common good, we can create lasting change. We invite others to step forward and join us to create that change,” added Mitchell.
The project will also benefit from a close relationship with 12 Neighbours founder Marcel LeBrun, the 12 Neighbours team, and a variety of 12 Neighbours residents.
Neighbourly Homes, the 12 Neighbours construction team, will also be the project’s construction partner for building and delivering the houses for the community.
“We are excited to share our model of an inclusive community-first approach to housing. We are community builders, not just home builders,” added LeBrun.
“Community is the healing agent, as people work to overcome challenges to a healthy, full, and independent life.”
The engineering planning phase is currently in progress. However, before construction can start and definitive opening dates can be set, the project must first go through a rezoning application with the city.
The projected budget stands at around $10 million, with United Way Maritimes planning to reach out for assistance from various levels of government. The goal is also securing funding through grants similar to those utilized by 12 Neighbours.
To bridge the financial gap, a fundraising campaign will be launched to cover expenses related to land acquisition, infrastructure, project management, programming, and additional requirements.
