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.
A month after the Tom Cruise rumors, Katie Holmes has confirmed the truth about their daughter in a rare interview.

In an uncommon interview, Katie Holmes revealed that she wants to “protect” the daughter she had with Tom Cruise.
After six years of marriage, Holmes and Cruise, the star of Mission Impossible, called it quits in 2012. Their split was widely publicized.
Holmes kept custody of the couple’s daughter, Suri, following their divorce, the circumstances of which were the subject of widespread rumors. Holmes has been open about the fact that not much has been seen of the now sixteen-year-old throughout the years.
At the age of 19, Holmes rose to fame when she was cast in the teen drama Dawson’s Creek.
“I remember really wanting to grow as an actor and not just do things to capitalize on the moment when we were doing Dawson’s Creek and it was successful,” Holmes said in an interview with Glamour Magazine. “I desired to pick up knowledge from others.”
However, the Batman Begins actress reached new heights after she started dating Tom Cruise, a Hollywood A-lister. Following the couple’s daughter Suri’s birth, media interest in their family reached a fever pitch.
As a result of the intense scrutiny, fresh paparazzi photos of Tom and Kate’s little daughter began to appear practically every day. In reaction, Katie decided to stay away from the spotlight in an effort to preserve the integrity of her little daughter. This led to a career hiatus that ended in 2011.
As previously mentioned, five years after being married in an Italian wedding, Tom and Katie parted ways in 2012.
It might not be all that surprising that the rumors went crazy since they were among the most well-known couples on the planet. There was much conjecture on the reason behind their breakup, with Holmes being regarded as being suspicious of the Church of Scientology.
In fact, Katie filed for Tom’s divorce in New York. This was allegedly done to increase her chances of receiving full custody of Suri—the law is against awarding shared custody to parents who are at odds with one another.
Holmes was able to make sure Suri was kept away from Scientology once she was granted sole custody of the youngster. Tom was not able to control the narrative, as he was accused of doing during his break with Nicole Kidman, because it was claimed that he did not see the divorce coming.

Either way, Holmes still feels the same intense need to keep her child safe.
Prior to the premiere of Rare Objects, her latest movie, the 44-year-old stated:
“I really prefer to protect my kid, which has been incredibly essential to me because she was so visible at a young age. I’m so appreciative to be her mom. She is a truly amazing person.
It was just revealed last month that Tom Cruise and his daughter had almost no interaction. The 60-year-old Top Gun actor reportedly hasn’t seen Suri in years and is no longer involved in her life, according to Page Six.
Do you like Katie Holmes or Tom Cruise? Do you believe that Katie is doing the right thing by keeping Suri private from the media?
Please share your opinions with us in the comments section.
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