Portland is poised to begin the work of building tiny houses. We couldn’t be more excited about the idea.
Tiny houses are small, compact houses, typically around 200 square feet.
Providing a safe home, regardless of its size, that offers privacy and security for individuals and families struggling through hard times is something we can all get behind. It’s also a great opportunity for elders on a fixed income that would like to be able to access something other than a large, crowded apartment building.
Being able to implement such a plan doesn’t come without challenges. Will Portland neighborhoods embrace the idea, and can the city withstand the political pressure if neighborhoods do not? We hope so.
Time and again in Portland and around the nation we’ve watched neighborhoods come undone over the idea of having homeless shelters, tent cities and other services in their neighborhoods. Having the city provide education and facilitating hard conversations will be key.
It’s also important to realize that while tiny houses are cute and make a big splash in the media, ultimately they are just one component of a much larger strategy to tackle homelessness and poverty in our community. Their allure shouldn’t replace the fact that we still need large investments in the regional Housing Investment Fund.
The rough costs for building a tiny home is $12,000. And these houses can be constructed with mostly recycled materials. It’s a win-win; especially considering what amenities can be added to areas with tiny houses, such as community gardens and green spaces.
This means more than building small houses. It means modifying zoning laws and other regulations to allow for a breakthrough in the housing market that accommodates people who have been pushed out. When it comes to solving our city’s housing needs — everything should be on the table.
On issues of housing and equity, Portland is at a crossroads. On one hand, we have thousands of individuals and families sleeping outdoors experiencing the harsh realities of homelessness. One the other hand, poor people and communities of color are being displaced from the city at an alarming rate.
We have a responsibility to provide housing to Portlanders in a way that is safe and affordable. It’s what a healthy society does. While tiny houses won’t solve all of the issues related to housing, but they can play a small role in helping us work toward housing solutions.
Read more from Street Roots on Tiny Houses.
