A new tiny home community is coming to Saint John, with the aim of making it a scalable model for other communities including in Kings and Charlotte counties.
It is modelled after 12 Neighbours in Fredericton – a net-zero tiny home community of 96 homes for those who are experiencing homelessness – which is a house-first approach.
It’s called Sunnyside Community – with two tech CEOs as co-leads on the project – and several high-profile partners including United Way Saint John, Kings & Charlotte and Saint John Energy.
“So, we’ve gathered together a team in Saint John, a great team of volunteers, businesses, people and are bringing the 12 Neighbours concept to Saint John, it’s called Sunnyside here in Saint John,” said co-lead on the project Steve Belyea.
The project will provide between 75 to 80 tiny homes that are fully furnished. It will be stocked with food and the essential items required for living, like plates, pots and pans, towels and toiletries.
Housing-first is, according to experts, a recovery-oriented, evidence-based philosophy and approach that recognizes that housing is a basic human right, and that people are better equipped to make progress in their lives if they have a safe, stable place to live.
It’s a project Belyea felt strongly about.
Alexya Heelis and Steve Belyea survey a new tiny home model for the new Sunnyside Community in Saint John. (Nathalie Sturgeon/CHCO TV)
“Because I think those of us that are in a position to do something need to do something and try to help. I think housing first is an important part of it providing it’s followed with a number of wrap-around services that people need,” he said in an interview.
The project will cost about $10 million dollars, with 12 Neighbours’ construction Neighbourly Homes building and delivering the homes.
It will be operated by the United Way Saint John, Kings and Charlotte – an organization that helps support many initiatives in the community.
“I think that it is very difficult to move forward in life when you don’t have your basic needs met.”
Alexya Heelis, the senior executive director for United Way Central and Southwestern NB, said she was drawn to the 12 Neighbours model as well.
The idea would be to make an affordable housing model, that has wrap-around supports, be scalable – or transferable to other communities including more rural areas like Charlotte County.
“It’s really about also about creating a model that is scalable so our hope is that at the end of this project, we’re going to have an affordable housing community that is there for the long term, that is going to help people grow and thrive here in Saint John, but in addition to that that we’re also going to have plan that other communities can follow,” she said.
Municipalities like St. Stephen have struggled to find solutions to the growing number of people experiencing homelessness in the community.
Last year, the province tried to secure a semi-permanent shelter after push back from community members over personal and community safety. It is once again looking for a temporary winter-time solution. The province did provide funding to a local non-profit called Neighbourhood Works for a temporary out-of-the-cold shelter.
It will be fully furnished and stocked housing. (Nathalie Sturgeon/CHCO TV)
In communities like Saint Andrews, Mayor Brad Henderson says this model could work.
He recently visited 12 Neighbours in Fredericton and was encouraged by the modelled there and how effective it was at helping it’s community members thrive.
Henderson said the services like career counselling and access to mental health support, among others.
“So we need to be cognizant of solutions and support our neighbours,” he said. “Any idea that really provides solutions for the community should be looked at.”
And as the group overseeing Sunnyside Tiny Home Community looks to replicate a proven model, they think about those people it might ultimately help.
“I think ultimately what this means is like dignity and stability. I think those are the two words that come to mind,” Heelis said. “I think that it is very difficult to move forward in life when you don’t have your basic needs met.”
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