Why building more homes won’t solve the affordable housing problem for the millions of people who need it most – November 12, 2021

Even before 2020, the U.S. faced an acute housing affordability crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic made it a whole lot worse after millions of people who lost their jobs fell behind on rent. While eviction bans forestalled mass homelessness – and emergency rental assistance has helped some – most moratoriums have now been lifted, putting a lot of people at risk of losing their homes.

One solution pushed by the White House, state and local lawmakers and many others is to increase the supply of affordable housing, such as by reforming zoning and other land-use regulations.

As experts on housing policy, we agree that increasing the supply of homes is necessary in areas with rapidly rising housing costs. But this won’t, by itself, make a significant dent in the country’s affordability problems – especially for those with the most severe needs.

Read the article here.

Conestoga Huts for the homeless a solution for the Northwest? KOMO News, Tuesday, February 26 2019

A dynamic new approach to homelessness with roots in settling the West: Conestoga Huts. The trend started in Eugene and the supporters are hoping it will spread through the Northwest.

“This is our hut,” said Tracy Joscelyn leading a tour of her hut. She said this temporary shelter is a godsend. “We have a beautiful bed. Most of them have a raised up bed.”

It is only 60 square feet of indoor living space. “It’s just really warm and awesome and amazing,” said Joscelyn. The main thing is it gets her off the streets and into a secure spot. “When you have a place to keep your possessions dry and safe instead of hauling them around, then you can start stabilizing your life and figuring out what the next step is.”

Read the article here.

A $22,000 tiny home can be unfolded from the box it’s delivered in

Tiny homes have been becoming increasingly popular for years, and RVs are also having a moment in light of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing travel restrictions.

Brette Haus, a Latvian startup that launched in 2019, seems to be the best of both worlds: a solid prefab tiny home that can also be moved from location to location.

Brette Haus makes foldable tiny homes that come in a box and can be unfolded and set up in less than three hours by two people.

Read the article here.

Homeless families get keys to new tiny houses in Santa Clara County

For most, a 100-square-foot room would be barely enough space for a closet or a knick-knack storage room. For others, it now means getting off the street.

“My daughters are very excited to have their own tiny home and are grateful to be here,” said Arely in Spanish through a translator. She did not want to give her last name.

Arely and her family will be among the first homeless residents to move into Casitas de Esperanza at the Civic Center, a community of 25 tiny homes at 800 N. First St. that can accommodate up to 100 people.

Santa Clara County officials, including supervisors Otto Lee and Cindy Chavez and County Supportive Housing Director Consuelo Hernandez, were on hand Monday to open the center.

Read the article here.

Skyscraper builder Onni emerges as a leader of Seattle tiny house campaign

Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis on Monday unveiled a campaign to partner with private companies and philanthropists to develop a dozen tiny house villages totaling 480 units this year.

The South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce proposed the idea to Lewis, and Onni Group of Companies, a high-rise developer with several projects in the Puget Sound region, has emerged as the corporate leader of the It Takes a Village campaign. Vancouver, British Columbia-headquartered Onni has pledged to fund around 40 tiny houses, help build the coalition and raise funds.

Read the article here.

Pallet: We know what it takes to end homelessness, because we’ve experienced — and have overcome — homelessness ourselves

“Pallet is a social purpose company on a mission to build equal opportunity access to housing and employment. For the more than half a million people facing homelessness across the United States, our durable, portable, and affordable shelters are a stepping stone out of personal crisis and into a life of stability — because a shelter changes everything.”

See their products here.

A new twist on tiny homes