Homeless people from Moncton find fresh start, addiction recovery at rural farm

Sitting by the warmth of a wood stove, Shawn Robicheau is quietly working away at a mosaic-style art piece. In vivid purple and green, he's creating a welcome mat that says "home."

For the first time in years, Robicheau has a modest home to call his own. He's one of the first people to move into a cluster of 21 tiny houses on a sprawling rural farm in Little River, about 37 kilometres southwest of Moncton. 

"You have your own place. It feels better than being cold and not knowing if you're going to die or not," he said. "It's a peaceful place. There's no arguments. There's no, 'Are we going to eat today?'"

The Humanity Project, a Moncton non-profit that serves meals to people in need, has been working for several years to turn the 187-acre farm into a "therapeutic community," with a focus on people who are not being served by existing shelters and services in the city.

The tiny homes, the first phase of the project, were built in the fall after the project received a $310,000 grant from the City of Moncton. The province has also committed up to $1.2 million to fund services at the farm.

The tiny house units are 8 x 10 feet in size and similar to a small private bedroom. They each have a bed, storage space, mini fridge, a small table and heating and air conditioning. Communal bathrooms are located in the main farmhouse, where residents also eat their meals.

The farm is open to men and women.

As of Thursday, a dozen people had moved off the streets of Moncton and onto the farm.

Charlie Burrell, the founder of the Humanity Project, said he expects the remaining homes to be filled within the next few weeks, with a long waiting list until more housing can be built.

"In 10 years of doing this, I don't think my heart has been so happy or so full as it is right now, seeing the difference in people," he said. 

Robicheau, 40, came to the farm in December after living on the streets of Moncton for the past five years, sleeping mostly outside on cardboard and blankets. He's struggled with addiction and said his motivation to stay sober is to be reunited with his two children.

"I had frostbite on my hands and on my body," he said. "I don't have to worry about that here."

The farm will only take people who want to recover and they cannot be using substances when they arrive. 

The Humanity Project is helping to find people spots at Moncton's detox centre and arrange any necessary medical appointments, before driving them out to the farm. It's an individualized process for each person, depending on their situation.