After selling his software business for millions, Marcel Lebrun decided to pour his time and money into an affordable housing project in Fredericton. CBC’s Harry Forestell takes a closer look at the 12 Neighbours community and its impact on the people who live there.
I’ll play devil’s advocate here …
First is many homeless need an address to start receiving any monetary help at all (CPP, social assistance, disability, etc). This starts the process.
Second is many don’t have jobs so wouldn’t be able to afford the maintenance costs of a full-size house.
Third is this could be a starter home for some, where they could get a job and start saving for a down-payment on a home or a larger rental unit.
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Honestly, like 200 sq ft. You don’t share walls with your neighbours. No stomping on the ceiling.
For free? Yeah, I could make it work and I’m not even homeless ffs.
It’s not free. You pay 30% of your income (source is the video).
but presumably you’re getting social assistance, no? it’s sort of like a Basic Income
Only with an address. If you have no address you can’t register.
That said there are a rare few agencies that allow people to use the agency address to start the process, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.
I’ve always paid >50% of my income when I rented. Sounds good!
I think it’s a decent solution for some. A small private space. I’ll note though that it is rather inefficient in land use. Many of the residents will need a car as well as they get back on their feet. Building these is closer to suburban sprawl in the form of a mini-mobile home park, which is not terrible, as I said it will be a decent solution for some.
I’d be curious as to the construction costs and land use for 99 of these tiny homes vs. building apartment blocks/condos closer into transit and work. Granted I was curious and a quick Google show $800,000 for 880 ft^2 1 bed, 1 bath condo in Vancouver.
Yeah, people saying he should have built an apartment have never paid rent in Vancouver LOL. People paying huge rent for half a living room with a sheet hung from the ceiling for privacy. at least with these you have youe own kitchen, toilet, shower, and personal privacy
I don’t think you understand the term “Devil’s Advocate” as everything you’re (rightly) stating is positive to the person doing this.
To play the Devil’s Advocate, the person doing this is a Millionaire. I guarantee they are getting tax breaks out the ears for doing this and their accountants will ensure that this ends up being a money making venture for them. Pessimistically speaking, there’s no such thing as altruism.