Last Updated on August 20, 2021
Progress Report – June, 2021
Friends,
Here are some updates,news items and resources from our research and outreach since our last progress report.
- Legal Cases Relating to People who are Homeless. Rick has written a summary document pointing to several court cases related to people who are homeless and the legal mistakes that several cities have made. It turns out that fighting these cases in court costs more than just providing services to those who need them.
Read document. - Homes Now Not Later! Rick and I had the pleasure of visiting a Tiny Home Community in Bellingham (Fairhaven), WA last week. Unity Village was created by a partnership between the nonprofit HomesNow.org and the City of Fairhaven. The City provided 1/4 acre of land consisting of an unused parking lot in an industrial part of town for a 2-year trial. Unity Village has now been in operation for 2 years and just received a renewal for another 3 years based on their successful operation. Unity Village has 22 brightly colored 8×12 ft tiny houses, each housing one person. The residents pay $150/month and sign a community agreement and a liability release. The village is “clean & sober” and is “self-managing,” meaning that there are no paid staff. We were impressed by how well managed, clean, and cost effective this village was. The biggest operating expense is six porta potties. The rental income more than covers all operating expenses. We learned from the “mayor” about the many features that contribute to the success of this community.
Read more here.