Homelessness is a problem that many cities face around the world. Even though governments and organizations are trying to fix it, it’s still a big issue. One Canadian millionaire decided to make a difference in his own town with his money. Here’s his story.
In Fredericton, New Brunswick, Marcel LeBrun, a millionaire entrepreneur, took action to help homeless people in his community. Marcel, who made a lot of money from his successful social media monitoring company, decided to invest $4 million of his own money to build 99 tiny homes for those in need. He didn’t just stop at providing homes; he also created job opportunities with his unique approach. This project is called 12 Neighbours.
After selling his company and gaining a lot of wealth, Marcel wanted to use his money for good. Seeing the homelessness issue in Fredericton, he came up with the idea of a tiny home community to give homeless people a new start. He named his project 12 Neighbours and aimed to build a gated community with 99 homes and an enterprise center. This community offers both housing and job opportunities, giving homeless people a chance to rebuild their lives.
Homelessness is a big issue in New Brunswick, with about 1,600 people experiencing it in a single day last year. In bigger cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York in the United States, the number of homeless people is much higher. Marcel LeBrun saw a chance to make a difference and decided to help those struggling with homelessness.
Marcel’s project, 12 Neighbours, is not just about building tiny homes. He wants to create a supportive community for people. The tiny homes he’s building are more than just places to stay. They are fully-furnished with kitchens, living areas, bedrooms, and full bathrooms. They even have solar panels on the roofs. Marcel sees himself as a community builder, aiming to provide a better life for those in need.
To make his vision a reality, Marcel LeBrun set up a factory where skilled volunteers help build the tiny homes. Using modern techniques, the factory can produce one tiny home every four business days. Once a home is built, it is carefully placed on concrete blocks to form the foundation of the community.
Marcel believes that owning a home is important because it gives people a sense of responsibility and stability. By allowing people who have experienced homelessness to own their own homes, the 12 Neighbours project aims to empower them and create a supportive community.
Besides providing homes, Marcel LeBrun’s project also focuses on creating job opportunities for the residents. The 12 Neighbours community includes an enterprise center with a coffee bar and a silk printing business, both run by the residents. This helps generate income and encourages residents to interact with the wider community.
Like any big project, 12 Neighbours has faced criticism. Some people think it’s better to reintegrate homeless individuals directly into society rather than keeping them together in one place. However, Marcel understands these concerns and has taken steps to ensure the community is safe and supportive.
Marcel explained, “Building a few homes is just as complicated as building many, and we wanted to make a real impact on homelessness in Fredericton. If we want to make a meaningful difference, we need to build houses. If I take someone who’s been living outside and put them in a luxury apartment, they might not succeed because it’s not their community or environment.”
Marcel LeBrun knows how important safety is, so he has included top security features in the 12 Neighbours community. There are gated entrances and advanced surveillance systems to ensure residents feel safe and protected.
LeBrun mentioned that some residents face challenges when they first move in. He explained, “When someone moves into a house, they might have others trying to take advantage of them. They need to learn what it means to manage their own space and decide who they let in and out.”
One of the main goals of 12 Neighbours is to build a strong sense of community both inside and outside its gates. LeBrun wants to create a place where residents and the people of Fredericton can come together. The community has a coffee bar and a personalized printing business to encourage interaction and understanding.
LeBrun told CBC, “I see myself as a community builder. We’re not just building a small community; we’re helping to make our city better.”
Marcel LeBrun’s project to build 99 tiny homes in Fredericton, New Brunswick, is a great example of using personal success to help others. Through 12 Neighbours, he has not only provided homes for those in need but also created job opportunities and a supportive community. His efforts have given hope to many and inspired others to make a difference.
Woman Leaves Newborn on Business Class Plane Seat, Decides to Find Him 13 Years Later
Rhonda’s life took an unexpected turn when she discovered she was pregnant. Her father, David Harris, was outraged upon learning the news. Coming from a wealthy family, Rhonda had been provided with everything by her father, who owned a large textile company. However, he was a controlling man who couldn’t accept the idea of his daughter raising a child with Peter, her boyfriend, who came from a lower-class background.Despite her father’s orders to terminate the pregnancy, 16-year-old Rhonda refused. Faced with her father’s ultimatum to either abort the baby or leave the house, Rhonda chose to leave. She packed her belongings and sought refuge with Peter, only to face another crushing blow—
Peter refused to take responsibility for the child and ended their relationship. Devastated and homeless, Rhonda wandered the streets, her life in shambles. As fate would have it, Rhonda went into labor on the streets, and a kind woman named Angela Bamford came to her aid, rushing her to the hospital. Rhonda gave birth to a baby boy, but her situation remained dire. Angela, who had lost her own daughter under similar circumstances, sympathized with Rhonda and offered to help her. Angela booked Rhonda a business class ticket to New York, hoping she could start anew there. During the flight, Rhonda was consumed by doubts and fears about her ability to care for her newborn. Overwhelmed by anxiety, she made the heartbreaking decision to leave her baby on the plane, hoping that someone would find him and give him a better life. She left a note with the baby, naming him Matthew Harris, and walked away, leaving her child behind.Years passed, and Rhonda struggled to rebuild her life. After nearly a decade of hardship, she finally secured a stable job and a place to live. However, the guilt of abandoning her son haunted her daily. Determined to find Matthew and make amends, Rhonda sought help from the police. To her relief, she discovered that her son had been adopted by Lincy, the flight attendant who had found him, and her husband. Rhonda reached out to Matthew’s adoptive mother and shared her story, hoping for a chance to meet her son. When Rhonda finally met Matthew, now 13 years old, he was furious and rejected her. He couldn’t understand how his biological mother could have abandoned him. Despite Rhonda’s attempts to explain, Matthew couldn’t bring himself to accept her as his mother. With time, however, Matthew softened. Though he initially refused to call Rhonda “mom,” he agreed to let her visit him on weekends. Over the next ten years, their relationship gradually improved. Matthew, now 23 and working as a data scientist in New York, forgave Rhonda and accepted her as his mother, understanding that her actions were driven by desperation.Rhonda’s life has continued to change. She recently started dating a man named Andrew and is considering marriage, but she wants to discuss it with Matthew first. She also reconnected with Angela Bamford, who was pleased to see that Rhonda’s life had finally come together. Through perseverance and the support of those around her, Rhonda was able to rebuild her life and mend her relationship with the son she had once thought she’d lost forever.
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