Earlier this month, we were delighted to join with community leaders to announce the Sunnyside Tiny Homes Community for Saint John.
United Way will be the owner and operator of this community, which will mirror the model and success of the 12 Neighbours community in Fredericton.
Saint John is facing a housing crisis that is unlike anything we’ve dealt with in recent history.
We know that having a safe, secure, affordable home is an important key to living a good life.
Without the stability of a home, the programs we regularly fund in the community have a much more difficult time supporting people to overcome barriers and thrive.
When entrepreneurs David Alston and Steve Belyea shared with us their vision for Sunnyside as a vibrant community of up to 75 homes on the east side of the city, we knew we could help!
We have been part of conversations around affordable housing solutions for years. And for more than 60 years, United Way Saint John, Kings & Charlotte has been steadfast in our mandate to bring people together to meet the needs of our community.
To ensure we get this right for Saint John, we’re involving various partners, including a major partner in Saint John Energy, which is donating land and refurbished heat pumps for each of the homes.
That means combining our own expertise with that of David and Steve – the co-leads of the Sunnyside Community Task Force – and 12 Neighbours and its founder Marcel LeBrun, as well as government, service providers, and donors who have a vested interest in making this project successful.
This project will unfold over time, and we will be launching a separate fundraising initiative for this project and if anyone is interested in knowing how they can support this work they can reach out to info@unitedwaysaintjohn.com.
As the owner and operator of the Sunnyside Tiny Homes Community, United Way will ensure this isn’t just a lot with tiny homes on it, it will be a sustainable community where people can grow, share and thrive.
For more information, visit the Sunnyside Tiny Homes Community website at