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.
I Tested My Middle Granddaughter’s DNA Because She Looks Different from Her Siblings
A concerned grandmother noticed her middle grandchild grew up looking different from her siblings. She decided to get her granddaughter a DNA test kit, and the results shocked her.
A woman’s grandchildren grew up on the other side of the country, so she never really got to see them grow up. The first time she met her middle grandchild, Lindsey, was when the child was already six months old.
Through the years, she noticed how different Lindsey looked compared to her siblings. It confused her that Lindsey had curly blonde hair while everybody else had dark hair.
Why Did Her Granddaughter’s Appearance Differ from Her Siblings?
The concerned grandmother shared her story on Reddit, hoping to get clarity on whether she was right to help her granddaughter get to the bottom of her heritage. Initially, she thought their family genetics were just deeper than she’d imagined, and she loved her granddaughter regardless.
One day, the woman discovered that Lindsey’s parents banned her from getting an ancestry test. The woman scolded her son and daughter-in-law for it, saying the young girl deserved to know the truth about her birth.
Ultimately, her son and daughter-in-law denied there was anything fishy regarding Lindsey’s birth. They asked the woman to leave, and that was the end of the story.
To their surprise, the DNA test results showed something fishy about her lineage.
However, now that Lindsey’s in high school, questions continue to fill her head regarding her birth. She went to her biology teacher, and the teacher told her that it was odd for her to have traits that her siblings or parents didn’t have.
What Secret Did the DNA Test Uncover?
Distressed, Lindsey ran to her grandmother, asking her to buy a DNA test. Concerned about her granddaughter, she purchased the test for her without telling her children.
Lindsey did all the work and took the DNA test after her grandmother handed it to her. To their surprise, the DNA test results showed something fishy about her lineage.
Results showed that Lindsey and her siblings didn’t share a mother. “My son got someone else pregnant and her [biological] mom gave her up,” the grandmother revealed.
The revelation wreaked havoc on the entire family. The woman’s son and daughter-in-law were furious, while Lindsey was equally mad at her parents for being lied to for fifteen years.
The woman’s children refuse to talk to her, and their non-communication has made Lindsey even more angry. While the grandmother had good intentions, she now wonders whether she was wrong for igniting this storm.
People on Reddit assured the woman that she did nothing wrong. To them, the people to blame were her son and daughter-in-law.
“There are medical reasons a person might need to know what their genetics are/are not and if you hadn’t helped her she would have found out some other way[sic],” one person argued.
“Guaranteed she was going to find this out in 3 years anyway. At least this way, she knows that someone [in] her family is more concerned about her mental health and well-being than their own,” another added.
“There are legitimate, tangible, life-&-death reasons for knowing your genetics. Lindsey absolutely deserves to know the truth. This overrides her parents’ desire to pretend everything is fine & dandy,” one shared.
People share the same sentiments that the heat wasn’t supposed to be on the grandmother but on the parents for hiding something so critical. They felt the young woman had the right to know about her own background, and her grandmother helped her uncover the truth.
Do you think the grandmother was wrong for buying the DNA test? What would you have done if you were in her situation?
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