The Freshwinds Eco-Village Housing Coop has secured a conditional letter of support from Housing NB.
Co-chair Sabine Dietz says the province has agreed to provide a forgivable loan of just over $1.6 million towards the 62 unit non-profit housing co-op on Fairfield Road in Sackville. Housing NB is also promising rent supplement assistance for 21 units for a projected 20-year period, says Dietz.
The news comes after a meeting between Freshwinds and New Brunswick’s housing minister, David Hickey, on July 22 in Sackville. Hickey was in town for a dedication ceremony at the latest new build from Habitat for Humanity NB.
Hickey told CHMA after the ceremony that he “had a very positive meeting” with Freshwinds members, and that he wants to “continue that discussion to make sure we can break ground on that project as soon as possible.”
“The province is supportive of the project as of now,” said Hickey. “There’s some alignment that still needs to happen to develop the project, to make sure we can get it off the ground.”
Hickey added he’s “really thankful that the Freshwinds team is amazingly volunteering their time to make it happen, and has created a really solid nonprofit and co-op model that is really exciting for the community.”
Dietz says the commitment from Housing NB is “extremely good news for us,” and will help the group with its next application to the federal Co-operative Housing Development Program in August.
“We were very pleased with the meeting with the Minister,” said Dietz via email. “He was indeed very supportive of the project.”
