A local non-profit is holding a community event in Kensington, Prince Edward Island, on March 27, 2026, to help build a new tiny home village for people struggling with homelessness and addiction. Sparrow Landing Tiny Homes is raising $100,000 to purchase land for a planned community that will eventually include 12 small houses.
The organization was started in 2024 by Dianne Young and Jimmy McGarry, who both have professional experience in helping people through recovery programs. Residents at the new site would pay 25 per cent of their income toward rent and will be allowed to stay as long as they need. The group hopes to eventually raise $1 million to complete the entire project, which would include a community centre.
This project comes as the number of people without a home on the island has more than doubled over the last few years. According to a survey by the John Howard Society of PEI, the number of unhoused people rose from 147 in 2021 to 318 in 2024. Finding a place to live has also been difficult because there are very few rental homes available across the province.
The fundraiser features a guest speaker from The Humanity Project Canada, an organization that runs a similar housing farm in New Brunswick. The talk will focus on the importance of recovery and helping people find a sense of belonging in their community. Supporters can attend the event to learn more about how the project aims to provide long-term housing for those who have finished addiction treatment.
