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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