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A millionaire builds almost 100 houses to help reduce homelessness in his community.

Homelessness is a problem in almost every city worldwide. Governments, charities, and other groups are working on it, but it hasn’t been solved yet.

A millionaire from Fredericton, New Brunswick, decided to take action himself. He spent his money to fight homelessness by building 99 tiny homes and creating jobs in his hometown.

In Fredericton, New Brunswick, a millionaire named Marcel LeBrun has taken an amazing step to help tackle homelessness in his community. Using $4 million of his own money, the founder of a successful social media monitoring company built 99 tiny homes for people in need. His project, called 12 Neighbours, not only provides safe housing but also creates jobs. Here’s the story behind Marcel LeBrun and his inspiring initiative, 12 Neighbours.

The Origins of 12 Neighbours

After selling his company for a large amount of money, LeBrun decided to use his wealth to help others. Seeing the homelessness problem in Fredericton, he came up with the idea of a tiny home community to give homeless people a fresh start. He called the project 12 Neighbours and planned to build 99 homes in a gated community with a business center, providing both housing and job opportunities.

Addressing a Pressing Issue

Homelessness affects many people in New Brunswick, with around 1,600 people experiencing it for at least one day last year. In bigger cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, the numbers are much higher. Marcel LeBrun wanted to help and decided to make a difference for those facing homelessness.

Building a Community
LeBrun’s vision for 12 Neighbours goes beyond just building tiny homes. He wants to create a supportive community where residents can thrive. These tiny homes aren’t just basic shelters—they’re fully furnished with kitchens, living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, and even solar panels on the roofs.

Constructing the Homes

To make his vision a reality, LeBrun set up a factory where skilled volunteers build the homes. Using modern methods, the factory can produce one tiny home every four business days. Once finished, the homes are placed on concrete blocks, creating the foundation of the community.

The Power of Ownership
LeBrun believes that owning a home gives people a sense of responsibility and stability, which is especially important for those who have experienced homelessness. By offering residents the chance to own their homes, 12 Neighbours aims to empower them and create a strong, supportive community.

The Importance of Job

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Beyond providing housing, LeBrun’s project also focuses on creating job opportunities for its residents. The enterprise center within 12 Neighbours features a coffee bar and a silk printing business, run by the residents themselves. This entrepreneurial initiative not only generates income but also encourages interaction between the residents and the broader community

Controversy and Criticism
Like any big project, 12 Neighbours has faced criticism. Some people believe it’s better to help homeless individuals reintegrate directly into society instead of grouping them together. However, LeBrun understands these concerns and has worked to ensure the community’s safety and well-being.

“It’s just as hard to build four homes, with all the challenges involved, as it is to build 10 or 20,” LeBrun explained. “We wanted to make a real impact on the homelessness problem in Fredericton. If we want to truly make a difference, we need to build homes.”

He also questioned the effectiveness of a decentralized approach: “If I take someone who has been living outside and give them 10 years of free rent in the nicest apartment in the city, will they succeed? That’s not their community or the environment they’re used to.”

Securing the Community

Screenshot CBC National

LeBrun explained some of the challenges residents face: “A resident moves into a house, and others might show up saying, ‘You owe me this, you owe me that,’ and try to take control. Residents have to learn what it means to manage their own space, to take charge, and decide who they let in or keep out. That’s a challenge.”

Community Engagement
A key goal of 12 Neighbours is to build a sense of community, not just within the neighborhood but also with the wider Fredericton area. LeBrun hopes to create a space where residents and locals can connect by offering services like a coffee bar and custom printing, encouraging interaction and mutual understanding.

“I see myself as a community builder. What we’re doing here isn’t just creating a small community but building something that helps improve the whole city,” LeBrun told CBC.

Making a Difference
Marcel LeBrun’s effort to address homelessness in Fredericton, New Brunswick, by building 99 tiny homes is a powerful example of turning personal success into positive change. Through his 12 Neighbours project, he has not only tackled homelessness but also created jobs and built a supportive community. His generosity and commitment have brought hope to those in need and inspired others to take action and make a difference.

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Carrie Underwood ‘furious’ with treatment at Trump’s inauguration

When her performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration didn’t go as planned, an insider claims that Carrie Underwood was “furious” and had a “mini hissy fit,” earning the singer the title of “inauguration day diva.”

On January 20, country music star Carrie Underwood stepped on the world’s biggest stage in Washington D.C. to perform “America the Beautiful” alongside the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club.

However, the performance did not go as planned. When the accompanying music failed to play, the American Idol alum had to think on her feet, turning an awkward situation into a display of vocal brilliance.

Taking control of the situation, Underwood, 41, addressed the crowd and encouraged them to sing along: “If you know the words, help me out here,” she said.

Her impromptu a cappella rendition was met with admiration, proving once again why she is one of country music’s biggest stars.

‘Inauguration day diva’

Backstage, however, things were very different with the star, who was called the “inauguration day diva.”

According to the Daily Mail, she was boasting to “anyone who wanted to listen that Trump called her personally to ask her to perform.”

But her personal invitation didn’t spare her from several behind-the-scene hiccups.

First, the Grammy-winning artist was forced to wear an off-the-rack dress, instead of the high-end gown she was expecting to be provided by “the administration or the designer,” an anonymous source tells the U.S. Sun.

“She was expecting to be dressed in something custom and at the very least something couture,” the insider said. “That also did not happen. Carrie ended up wearing a $300 dress off the rack and discounted shoes.”

Limited guests

Adding to the list of unexpected changes, the “Somethin’ Bad” singer reportedly found herself with a much smaller entourage than she had anticipated. Due to the event being moved indoors, the guest list was cut down, limiting how many people she could bring with her – “something she was not happy about,” the insider told the Sun.

“She hired an army of security…and demanded she be allowed a team of 20. She of course demanded tickets for her family and friends on top of that as well,” a separate source told the Daily Mail.

It didn’t end there.

Staging a disaster

Beyond her shrunken entourage, technical difficulties and wardrobe disappointments, reports suggest that Underwood was also dissatisfied with the staging of her performance.

According to the Daily Mail, the “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer was “furious” that she was not treated with the “same level of respect” as other performers, like Lady Gaga, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021.

“Carrie was dissatisfied with her performance at the event, primarily due to the limited space she was given, which left her feeling cramped and uncomfortable,” the source claimed. “Her anxiety was high throughout the performance, and she felt that she was not afforded the same level of respect or admiration that previous performers, such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, had received.” Beyoncé sang the U.S. national anthem at Barack Obama’s 2013 presidential inauguration.

The tipster continued, “She is used to playing at massive venues with a stage to herself. She was not given a stage or a platform even. She felt like she was literally just in a room with people all around her and a microphone. This threw off the acoustics.”

The insider added, “She felt as if she was ushered in and out and had a mini hissy fit afterwards.”

Carrie Underwood’s show in Washington D.C. was filled with unexpected twists, yet she managed to rise above it all, delivering a powerful vocal performance that left an impression on fans and critics alike.

What do you think of Carrie Underwood’s alleged “diva” behavior behind the scenes at the inauguration? Please let us know your thoughts and then share this story with others so we can hear what they have to say!

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It Appeared As Though This House Was About To Collapse!

The house looked like this before anyone was interested in buying it. It was fortunate that someone recognized its potential and value in recapturing architectural history.

The house now looks like this.

With inviting shades of olive green, terracotta red, and gold, everything was restored and enhanced.

Five different kinds of wood make up the floors. These stained glass windows are the reason that there are rays of light and color.

Each of the five bedrooms on the upper floor has its own design and special charm.

Even a beautiful sunroom could be used as a study space.

In addition, there is a small hideaway in the finished loft that is a great spot for chatting, playing, and creating in the rain.

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High school student wins science fair by demonstrating how a long-forgotten Native American recipe can kill cancer cells in-vitro

Destany “Sky” Pete, a high school student, won the 2017 Elko County Science Fair in Nevada after she re-discovered that a long-used traditional dish containing a specific plant known as chokecherry possesses cancer-killing properties.

After having a conversation with one of the elders of her tribe, Pete, a Native American and a member of the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Idaho and Nevada, came to the conclusion that the tribe’s health issues were a result of the reduced consumption of traditional foods, specifically toishabui or chokecherry pudding.

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The bright student researched the medical properties of the chokecherry, a plant still planted and harvested by the members of her community.

Once she showed interest in researching the medical properties of the plant, Pete got in touch with Dr. Ken Cornell, a biochemistry professor at Boise State University specializing in cancer cell research, through one of her high school teachers.

They tested four types of chokecherry specimens on uterine sarcoma cancer cells and allowed a 24-hour incubation period. The specimens included: Traditional chokecherry pudding with crushed seeds, chokecherry pudding without seeds, chokecherry juice alone, and chokecherry extract.

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The results showed that only the traditionally prepared pudding with crushed seeds exhibited cancer-inhibiting properties.

“The traditional (Shoshone and Paiute) method of preparing chokecherry pudding includes the seed of the chokecherry, crushed up,” said Pete. “Nowadays, some people just kind of juice the berry and take out the seed completely. But maybe the seed has medicine that can help us to stay well.”

The study was conducted in-vitro, or in test tubes, meaning its implications are limited. However, it is considered a breakthrough in the fight against cancer.

Speaking of her accomplishment, Pete said she’s proud to be representing her Native American heritage, adding that science and culture often go hand by hand.

Chokeberries, also known as arena berries, are small red berries native to North America that have anti-inflammatory properties. These berries are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K.

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