Think of the tiny house village as the long-term, permanent solution we have envisioned. However, there is value in transitional housing to move our friends from homelessness to permanent housing. Square One Villages (featured in our last post) began with a transitional housing facility. These transitional spaces were very small, smaller than a tiny house. They are designed for each person to have a secure, personal space in which to sleep and store property. These tiny spaces are combined with common areas that the residents in the community can use for community.

Veterans Community Project is implementing a tiny house program to combat homelessness in the veteran community. While VCP’s focus is narrower than ours in that they work exclusively with veterans, their program bears resemblance to our long-term plan for a community of tiny houses in which we plan to house our homeless friends.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness released a report in 2020 designed to give an overview of the state of homelessness in the United Stated. While Covid-19 has had a profound effect on the homeless population, an effect that has yet to be fully quantified, the data from the 2020 report gives us an understanding of the needs affecting our homeless friends.

Recently, I viewed the the movie, Nomadland. It was somber, relatable must see. One quote that is especially true for us and for our houseless friends: "There are no final goodbyes, just I'll see you down the road. And I do, I see them down the road." Fern could be any of us. Her life dramatically changed when she lost her husband. So, she chose to live the life of a Nomad.

Cold weather is particularly dangerous for the homeless population in Akron, OH. Shelters are a big help this time of year, but space is always limited. With economic crises and decreased employment, this could be a particularly busy year for shelters. So, what can you do to help? We show you how in this article. Thanks again for all of your support! We couldn’t do this work without you!