'We can live:' How Fredericton's growing, affordable tiny home community offers hope

Nestled next to a Walmart on Fredericton’s Northside sits a new community with row upon row of tiny homes. Here's how the 12 Neighbours project is offering residents a chance at hope.

Nestled next to a Walmart on Fredericton’s Northside sits a new community with row upon row of tiny homes. 

Behind each door is a story. A hope. A name. Most of the tiny homes didn’t exist two years ago, but those who call this place home don’t know where they'd be otherwise. 

“I have no idea. Probably somewhere on the streets, cold and scared and alone,” said Susan Hayward. "Especially when you're single. I'm a widow. And right now I've been out of work for a long time so I couldn't jump right back into anything."

Hayward is one of about seventy people the organization 12 Neighbours has helped house in the past two years. Another five residents will move in next week. 

Millionaire Marcel Lebrun is the founder of the 12 Neighbours charity and mastermind behind the project. 

Lebrun said his aim was to make his city better and provide people who are homeless or precariously housed with a safe and affordable place to live. 

“Unless you have a safe, warm place to live, it’s just impossible to work on any of the other challenges in your life. So to me that became the starting point,” said Lebrun.