Humanity Project seeks 'a piece of dirt and an old bus'

A Moncton-based non-profit group is looking for "a piece of dirt and an old bus" so it can feed the city's homeless and keep them warm as winter approaches.

Charles Burrell, the founder and volunteer with the Humanity Project, appeared in front of Moncton council on Monday night with his request for a used city bus and a place to park it.

Burrell assured city council he isn't asking for any money.

"I'm asking for a piece of dirt and an old bus," he said on Monday night.

The plan is to buy a bus that is already sitting unused in Codiac Transpo's yard for $1, install restaurant seats and tables, and welcome local homeless aboard to have a warm place to sit down and eat during the winter.

Burrell is also asking for a place to park the bus, near the soup kitchen and homeless shelters, so it's easily accessible to people who need it.

"We want to put down the bus and build it kind of like a diner, they can go in and eat, but on the same piece of property we want to put winterised shelters for our hidden homeless," Burrell said.

Burrell said the Humanity Project feeds hundreds of people each week and he'd like to have a warm place for them to eat as soon as possible.

Burrell said shelters fill up sometimes and don't fit everyone's needs. So he'd like to have small mini homes built near the bus, adding that if the city denies his request, he'll still find a way to make his project happen.

Councillors offer support

After the presentation, Burrell's application was met with applause from his many supporters that were listening in the audience.

Several councillors also offered positive feedback to Burrell's presentation and looked to city staff for options to move forward with Burrell's request..

The proposal will be sent to the city's parks and leisure services department, where it will be examined. As well, the city's social inclusion co-ordinator will look at the proposal. 

Coun. Brian Hicks said he wanted city staff to report back to council as quickly as possible.

"We've worked with groups and I think we should do it again," Hicks said.

Coun. Dawn Arnold also offered cautious support for the proposal. Arnold also encouraged Burrell to work with other community groups that are trying to combat poverty in the city.

"I applaud you for what you're doing, it's good to be a disrupter but do work with other people because there's a lot of really great stuff going on too," she said.