The provincial government will be building 13 new so-called micro-homes in the capital city as part of a new, $2-million agreement with Ottawa.
The federal minister responsible for seniors, St. John’s MP Joanne Thompson, and provincial Housing Minister John Abbott made the announcement at the Buckmaster’s Circle Community Centre in St. John’s this morning.
The pilot project will see the micro-homes constructed on NL Housing land, using either traditional or modular builds, and will be reserved for people who are homeless.
Abbott notes they prefer the modular design, where sections of the home are constructed off site and then delivered.
(Architect rendering)
He says they need to go through an approval process with the city, which he thinks can happen quickly, and then put the process out to tender in the spring.
Specifically referencing modular designs, Abbott says those can be moved “very. very quickly,” and the hope is that they can have people moving in “within the year.”
In addition to the construction of micro-homes, part of the $2 million in funding will also be used for the operations of End Homelessness St. John’s, including their Housing Outreach Team and Supported Referrals Program.
