The Humanity Project is being given a lifeline by the City of Moncton to find a permanent home.
The City is loaning $200,000 upfront to the organization to help them buy the former Moncton Curling Association Building on Lutz Street.
Community Development Officer for Social Inclusion Kayla Breelove Carter says this loan will be combined with $290,000 the group has already raised.
“And then we’re providing them with another $200,000 so they can acquire the building, demolish part of the building, and rebuild for the purpose of the food security aspect as well as education and support,” says Breelove Carter.
She says the City is also giving them an annual grant of $25,000.
“The $25,000 is there as a security to pay back that loan, just because they had requested the money up front,” says Breelove Carter. “So essentially we’re giving a $200,000 grant, but it is a loan and being paid off through yearly grants.”
Breelove Carter says in order to get this money, the group must fulfill certain conditions by November 30th.
Those conditions range from ensuring the building is up to code, to proving they are an incorporated not-for-profit in good standing.
“Up until now they’re already at 50% that we’ve received from that list, so quite realistic, we’re continuing to work with them, actively reminding them, providing them with the different resources to be able to achieve their goal,” says Breelove Carter.
Humanity Project Founder Charlie Burrell says this money will help them build their dream to end homelessness and hunger in Moncton.
He adds all the money they fundraised, plus the loan from the City will be used towards Phase 1 which is buying the building.
Burrell says the second phase is building transitional housing inside.
“We plan on putting 32 units inside the building, like studio type apartments, but they’re transitional,” says Burrell. “And then the third phase is taking the old part of the building off and building a new building that’s more energy efficient that’ll suit our needs, and then doing the community garden and stuff as well.”
Burrell says they’ve already fundraised $290,000 and needed the City to contribute the remainder, adding with $490,000 in hand they can move forward with discussions with the Moncton Curling Club.
“The ask price is $450,000 on it, so we’re in negotiations with them now, but we couldn’t negotiate without the rest of the money, so now that the City has confirmed it, we’re able to go to the table and have a little bit of negotiations with them,” says Burrell.
He is confident they will meet a number of requirements by the end of this month in order to qualify for the loan.
