The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to build 10 micro-homes on Army Street in the Buckmaster’s Circle area of St. John’s.
The RFP is seeking companies to construct two buildings, one with six studio-style apartments and the other with four. Two of the 10 units will be fully accessible, while all units will have universal design features, such as lever handles, grab bars and colour contrast.
A micro-home is smaller than a typical apartment, and will be approximately 450 square feet. It is similar in layout to the much publicized “tiny homes,” but in an apartment setting, and will support individuals who are experiencing homelessness or who are unsheltered.
The homes will be built on land owned by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation in the Buckmaster’s Circle area. The project is funded by a more than $2 million contribution from the Federal Government’s Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, which prioritizes initiatives that directly support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, tailored to the specific realities of St. John’s.
This RFP is open to alternative forms of construction, such as modular and Insulated Concrete Forms. The review and awarding of the RFP is anticipated this fall.
Quotes
“This federal-provincial housing project is the latest component of the work being done to address the housing and homelessness challenges in our province. We recognize that no single action or investment can overcome these issues, so we aim to break the cycle of homelessness on several fronts. These include the expansion of staffed shelter beds, transitional and supportive housing, and the creation of our own units.”
Honourable Jamie Korab
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“This project at Buckmaster’s Circle is putting practical, modern ideas to work, and that’s building small homes with the right community supports. Through the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, we’re helping to add ten safe and comfortable homes, two of which are fully accessible, so more St. John’s residents have a secure and dignified place to call home.”
Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and Member of Parliament for St. John’s East
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The Provincial Government, through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), is expanding its homeowner support programs to help more families afford necessary maintenance and upgrades to their homes.
A safe and well-maintained home is an important factor in individual and family well-being, allowing families to stay in their homes as they age and ensuring families have a home that meets their needs.
NLHC is increasing the income eligibility thresholds for three programs. This includes:
These programs play a key role in supporting the affordability needs of homeowners, particularly seniors in rural areas, helping them to age in place. The average age of those who availed of these programs last year was between 68 and 71 years old, with seniors accounting for between 72 per cent and 76 per cent of all approved applications.
With these changes, it is estimated that more than 800 additional homeowners will be able to apply under these programs.
Quotes
“Helping people remain in their homes for as long as they wish is one of the key tenets of NLHC. By raising the eligibility threshold of these home improvement and modification programs, we aim to provide support to more people who wish to enjoy the comfort of remaining in their homes.”
Honourable Jamie Korab
Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“These changes will have a meaningful impact on seniors throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. A safe, accessible, and well-maintained home is at the heart of aging well in the right place. By raising income eligibility, more seniors can now access the help they need to stay independent, connected, and comfortable in the homes they love for as long as possible.”
Kimberly Leonard
Chief Executive Officer, Seniors NL
As part of the Provincial Government’s continued efforts to help those experiencing homelessness break the cycle and achieve housing stability, a request for proposals (RFP) was issued today for the creation of a new Transitional and Supportive Living Program in St. John’s.
The RFP is seeking a partner or partners to create and operate 60 units of transitional and supportive housing. Transitional spaces aim to foster a transition from chronic homelessness in emergency shelter to sustainable independent living, while supportive living spaces are for individuals who require longer-term supports such as personal care, meals, housekeeping and social and recreational activities. The successful proponent will propose the specific mix of transitional and supportive spaces, with no less than 20 units of either type.
The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, will be available to media at 2:30 p.m. today (Friday, August 8) to discuss the transitional and supportive living RFP. This media availability will take place at the NLHC offices, 2 Canada Drive, St. John’s.
The successful operator(s) will work in partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation and local service providers to complement current service offerings while providing wrap-around supports on site. This will include a range of programming, including housing readiness, life skills development and social supports. It will also include the continued collaboration with NL Health Services through the Downtown Collaborative Health Care Team, which provides health care supports designed for vulnerable and marginalized populations.
This RFP is the next phase in a process that started in January 2024 with the creation of a temporary Transitional and Supportive Living Initiative, which came to be known as Horizons at 106 under operator End Homelessness St. John’s. Through this partnership, Horizons has welcomed over 120 people experiencing chronic homelessness – 25 of whom have moved from the program into more stable housing within the community.
Once this RFP is awarded and a new permanent program is established, it will replace Horizons at 106. The work of Horizons will continue until that time, and it is anticipated that more individuals will be supported to transition out of the program prior to this shift. The successful bidder will work with End Homelessness St. John’s and NLHC to help those who remain transition into other supportive arrangements.
The Provincial Government is also working with End Homelessness St. John’s to expand its HomeConnect program, which connects tenants who have experienced homelessness with participating landlords. The program creates successful tenancies by identifying barriers to housing stability and ensuring supports are in place to address them.
Quotes
“As we move forward into the next step of this process, we have learned much about the opportunities and challenges of transitional and supportive living. We will apply these learnings in this new program, and will look to continue the early successes of Horizons at 106 in support of our most vulnerable populations.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“NL Health Services is committed to providing team-based health care to all individuals, regardless of their living situation or location. We look forward to continuing to provide health care supports through the Downtown Collaborative Health Care Team and working with government and community partners in support of our vision of ‘Health and Well-Being. Every Person. Every Community.’”
Ron Johnson
Chief Operating Officer – Eastern Zones, NL Health Services
“HomeConnect is a vital pathway to permanent housing for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness, offering stable tenancies alongside the supports people need to thrive. It works because it’s grounded in community partnerships and housing-first principles. But as the need continues to grow, so must our collective capacity. Everyone in St. John’s deserves a safe place to call home – and that requires sustained investment and commitment from all of us. We look forward to working with government to expand this vital program.”
Doug Pawson
Executive Director, End Homelessness St. John’s
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BACKGROUNDER
Housing, Transitional and Supportive Living Housing and Emergency Shelter Development in St. John’s and Throughout the Province
Since 2023, the Provincial Government has made record investments to address housing needs throughout the province. Investments have focused on three key areas:
In St. John’s and the metro area, the results of this approach include:
The Provincial Government is also continuing to invest in affordable housing, as well as transitional and supportive housing projects provincewide. Some notable projects include: