3 Ways Tiny Houses Can Change The World For Good

Tiny House Villages for the Homeless

Do tiny house villages provide a feasible solution for homelessness? Mother Jones explored the issue recently; however, it seems not all ‘tiny houses’ are created equal. In Oakland, California, for example, the tiny shelters more closely resemble large dog houses than miniature houses for people. They provide the bare minimum: a small space to sleep in that provides a shelter from the elements. However, communities like Second Wind Cottages, which has a limited number of houses available only to men is more representative of a comprehensive, temporary solution to homelessness that provides actual, heated homes complete with kitchens and bathrooms.

However, there are a number of obstacles to tiny houses becoming a reality for many. One major issue is residential zoning regulations. Zoning “covers where your tiny house can be occupied.” There are a number of reasons building zones exist, “including health, safety, and financial” reasons like the minimum requirements for septic connections. One of the most common solutions for private homeowners is deciding to own some land with a house they rent out while parking their tiny house in the backyard. As long as you own the land, zoning shouldn’t be a problem. However, you’ll want to look into minimum square-footage and size requirements for your neighborhood, as these can differ widely.

In the case of Quixote Village, a member of the board of directors, Jill Severn, said the board of directors managed to get the city of Olympia to pass a zoning code amendment “to allow us to build what they called a ‘permanent homeless encampment’ on ‘property owned by the county in a light industrial zone.’” In general, it helps if the land is privately owned, so when fundraising for tiny house village, efforts should include funds needed to purchase the land for the community. Or, as mentioned previously, there’s the possibility of sub-leasing the house on the property in order to help cover the costs. One other possibility—assuming the amount of land is large enough to accommodate all the tiny houses—is to use the main house as a ‘clubhouse’ of sorts, which would serve as a meeting and dining space, as well as a place where residents could do their laundry or use community Wi-Fi.