Last year, a reported 1,800 people in Fredericton spent at least 24 hours without a home. LeBrun used a whopping $4 million of proceeds from his business sale to build what’s now known as the ’12 Neighbours’ gated community, consisting of 99 small homes for the needy.

These are no mansions, but nor are they boxes. Each property has a kitchen, a bed, a bathroom, and a cute little front deck for chilling. There are also solar panels on the roof to keep things eco-friendly. The ’12 Neighbours’ community is almost there, with over three-quarters of the homes already completed. The project also got $12 million in government grants. Amazing news.

But not everyone is happy about this project. Some people feel that it is better to help homeless people go back into regular society instead of putting them in a gated community. Despite that, ’12 Neighbours’ is pushing through. They’re not just building houses—they’re creating a whole vibe for those who’ve been through a lot. However, LeBrun argues that homeownership makes people feel responsible, especially those who have experienced homelessness.

There’s more coming from this project! There are plans to have a community center run by the residents. This could include a coffee shop, a teaching kitchen, and a silk printing business. It could become a nice hangout spot where everyone, whether they live there or not, can come together. This means they’re not just tackling homelessness but creating a place where people can connect and find work.

Marcel has stated that his dream is to make ’12 Neighbours’ a place where people from town can come by for coffee or to use the services of the businesses there. The goal for the community is to give homeless people a home and a chance to be part of something awesome.

Being homeless is a scary reality countless people face. Nowadays, it’s getting harder and harder to pay bills, put food on the table, provide for the family, and live in general. Many people have no choice but to leave everything behind and take their chances on the streets. Sometimes that means leaving behind something you love, as a woman recently had to do, unfortunately.

A Really Sad Story

A woman from Chattanooga, Tennessee, felt desperate enough to leave her puppy, Lilo, out on the streets because life had gotten too expensive, and she was facing a homeless life. The mom of two was heartbroken having to make the decision, but she was thinking of the dog’s best interest. She wanted the pup to have the best possible home, and she knew she couldn’t offer that, so she left her behind.

Homeless Lilo Gets Rescued

Fortunately for Lilo, a good samaritan found her and kindly took her to the McKamey Animal Center. There, they took care of the dog and discovered a heartfelt note her owner had left on her collar. It urged someone to take in the dog and love her as her mom could no longer do so due to expenses and having to live on the street with her children.

A Sweet Reunion for Dog and Owner

After the shelter posted the note on its Facebook account, they were left to wait. They cared for the dog and made sure she was healthy and fed until someone came to claim her. They also promised the owner they would do whatever they could to assist. The woman finally came in and was reunited with her best friend! She got help from the shelter and could keep her dog by her side!

After reuniting the woman and her beloved dog, Lilo, they updated their Facebook post to urge people to seek help when in these situations from their local animal shelters.