Tiny Homes

I have been fascinated by the tiny home movement. I can’t imagine living in 200 square feet or less, but 400 might work for us. No lofts except for storage. Ladders and stairs are not a good thing at our ages. But living efficiently in a small space is attractive. Convenience and ease of maintenance are two primary benefits.

Cost of heating and cooling the space is also attractive. Learning to live with fewer things and complexities is very alluring. Of course, there are problems, mainly the restrictions on where to locate the tiny home. Many are built on trailer beds with wheels for ease of moving to various locations. I don’t need that feature. Just a plot of land on which to place the tiny home, preferably among friendly neighbors who seek similar acceptance.

That is a big problem for tiny homes. Building codes prohibit them in most places. Even placing one in a backyard of a family member is not allowed most of the time. Now I understand the wheels! They are needed to keep one step in front of the building code police!!

I have a SCORE client who thinks the tiny home movement is a good answer to homeless veterans. She’d like to assemble a small community of tiny homes to house veterans. Her plan includes an activity center adjacent to the grouping of tiny homes, so the vets would have a place for one meal per day with their peers. The community center would also house laundry facilities, visiting nurse and/or doctor, a fitness center, and meeting rooms for classes, counseling and so much more.

I think her idea is terrific. But she has a problem: no one wants a tiny home community in their town or city. Even land that lies unused has been declared out of reach. Political leaders (mayors) fear voter reaction and dare not risk this project.

Yet the unemployed, homeless veterans in our midst need our help. A tiny home neighborhood complex would be a good answer. Especially if that program included support services to help them train for a new career, connect them with employers, and most of all, a warm and welcoming home.

How can we make this happen? Anybody out there with the courage and resources to help her?

If yes, please contact me at saffordcu@gmail.com. I’ll be waiting. And sharing the results.

December 22, 2020