End Homelessness St. John’s is pleased that the province will be introducing micro-homes for people facing homelessness in St. John’s.
The province says they will be building 13 micro-homes with their share of a $2-million pot of federal funding. End Homelessness will be using the rest of the money towards their operations.
Executive director Doug Pawson says the concept has been popping up around the country, and he is excited to see it implemented in the capital city.
He says the smaller units will allow people to focus on their housing stability and long-term goals.
Pawson explains why he believes such initiatives work.
He says they are cost-efficient, energy-efficient, and easy to build, and they are easy to get people moved into with supports. “so its a win-win from a cost, design, and human-centred perspective.”
NDP leader Jim Dinn, who has long been advocating for better housing support, believes it is a “step in the right direction,” noting that it will get people off the streets, out of shelters, and into something stable.
He also likes that that program is happening within the NL Housing Corporation. He says the NDP has been calling for more non-market, community-based housing, and this is a positive move because it adds to that stock.
