Are Tiny Homes a Resource to Aid Unhoused People?

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As more and more people are experiencing troubles related to housing, it is important to look at possible remedies for the situation. One such remedy could be utilizing “tiny homes” to house those who are currently unhoused. Tiny Homes have gained much popularity in recent years for a number of reasons. For some, tiny homes are simply trendy and something that they saw on television, but for others they are a more environmentally friendly way to coexist with our planet. There are many more reasons for people to choose to live in a tiny home and I believe it could be the answer to many people currently living on
the street.

    A tiny home would be a great alternative to something like a tent for people without reliable housing because it has many of the benefits without the downsides. As tiny homes have become more and more popular they have become cheaper and easier to build, they are oftentimes built on a trailer for greater mobility and there are some ingenious uses of space that have been born out of necessity that comes with such small footprints. Not all tiny homes are equipped with electricity, kitchens and plumbing, but many have some or all of those things. People who are living on the street would be much more protected from the elements in a tiny home, safer from intruders and much more capable of storing their belongings. It also makes it that much more difficult to get back on your feet when you are living out of a tent rather than a more permanent dwelling.



    One particular example of an organized village of tiny homes for people in need is Agape Village in SE Portland. This village is equipped with somewhat barebones dwellings that are without electricity or plumbing but are still a great benefit to those who live there. As each home in the village is so small, the entire village itself is likewise quite compact and easy to manage. It is run by Portland’s Central Nazarene Church and they have been successful in not just housing residents but also turning their lives around. There is an application process to be invited to live in this village as well as rules to uphold during your stay. The church doesn’t allow anyone with a violent criminal record, doesn’t allow drugs or alcohol within the village and also requires that everyone living there covers a night guard shift once per week. The church that runs it also checks in with each resident at least once a week to discuss goals and progress towards those goals. This village is a great example of utilizing tiny homes as a means of protecting those without a place to live. These tiny homes are cheaper and easier to maintain for the church who manages them and allows them to better help many people who are in need.


    Please visit https://reasonstobecheerful.world/tiny-house-agape-village-portland-homeless/ to find out more about this remarkable village of tiny homes.

Written by Sam Welty

References:

  Bartholomew, Santana, V., & Strimel, G. J. (2019). Teaching Engineering Concepts through Socially Relevant Contexts: Serving the Homeless with Smart Tiny Homes. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 78(7), 24.

Wallace, H. (2021, February 22). The Tiny-House Village That’s Changing Lives, Reasons To Be Cheerful, https://reasonstobecheerful.world/tiny-house-agape-village-portland-homeless/


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