When people feel like they’re part of a community, they want to contribute more.
This according to Lisa Ryan, of the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee.
“We need to have a variety of different types of housing to meet the individual where they are and single-room occupancy units can make that sense of community where you can have your neighbours, you’re cooking together, you’re having meals together and doing event together as a community,” says Ryan.
Ryan says there are currently 27 abandoned buildings and another 400 units have been deemed not up to code by the fire marshal.
A three year collaborative plan will see a number of those buildings turned into rental units.
The committee would like to see some of these units be mixed income housing, welcoming students and seniors in addition to low income families.
They are currently seeking landlords to give a hand with the initiative.
“The money that goes into the building would again be for upkeep and maintenance but we would have a non profit basically be the property manager so they would be the ones who are taking care of the issues that would arise in the building. The landlord is just kind of the investor piece of it,” says Ryan.
She believes in the importance of having the homeless engage with the community, rather than isolate them.
