- Marcel LeBrun sold his company in 2011 for a hefty sum
- Invested his money into helping the homeless
- Built a neighborhood on a 65-acre plot consisting of tiny homes
A millionaire based in Eastern Canada put $4 million of his own money into building a neighborhood consisting of 99 tiny homes to help out the homeless.
Read more: New York Zoo Feeds Baby Vulture with Hand Puppet
Marcel LeBrun, CEO and co-founder of Radian6, sold his company to CRM giant Salesforce in 2011 for a hefty sum, then turned his attention to humanitarian work.
Read more: Roborunner: Robots Run with Humans in China Race
According to CBC, in the town of Fredericton, New Brunswick, at least 1,800 people found themselves homeless for at least one day in 2022.
LeBrun, speaking to Macleans, said “I won the parent lottery, the education lottery, the country lottery”. He added “It would be arrogant to say every piece of my success was earned, when so much of it was received.”
12 Neighbours is made up of tiny homes
The tech tycoon’s nonprofit is called 12 Neighbours – a “dignified micro home community” consisting of tiny homes for people looking to get a new start in life.
The neighborhood sits on a 65-acre plot that was previously used for harvesting trees and is close to major bus routes.
Started in 2021, the gated community now includes 96 tiny homes, all built between 2021 and 2024 – just shy of the original goal of 99. LeBrun designed the neighbourhood to give people access to vital resources while still respecting their dignity and independence.
The homes are compact, but with space for a full-equipped kitchen, a small bed space and a bathroom. They also have some decking out the front and solar panels on the roof.
Residents on the site also have access to a community centre run by locals, featuring workshops, community gardens, a coffee shop, and other retail spaces.
Government backed 99 tiny homes
In early 2023, the project got a $13 million boost from both the provincial and federal governments to help keep things growing.
The additional funding allows for another 60 homes to be built in the neighborhood, reaching his proposed target of 99 and beyond.
A local church group even donated an 8,000-square-foot space, which LeBrun turned into a manufacturing warehouse staffed by a team earning a living wage.
When it comes to rent, residents only pay 30% of their income – which, for most, works out to no more than $200 a month. That price includes all utilities and internet, too.
Jill Green, minister responsible for housing in New Brunswick, said in the release that the micro-home community is “the most innovative initiative that has been developed in New Brunswick to help vulnerable residents in need of housing.”
LeBrun remains humble in his achievements, saying “The word philanthropy is often interpreted as someone who gives money.”
He added, “But the Greek roots of the word philos and anthropos mean to love humans. What I have discovered is spending money is the easy thing, spending yourself is the hard thing. The 12 Neighbours project is how I can best spend myself.”
