Low Income Tiny Home Communities
Across the US there are many tiny home communities that offer access to the tiny home lifestyle for low income folks. Many of these communities are beautifully master planned spaces that offer amenities, services, and safety. I will break them down state by state for you below.
Oregon
Emerald Village Eugene, OR
https://www.squareonevillages.org/emerald
Emerald Village is a beautifully planned community for low income individuals, couples, and families. Each tiny home was designed by a local architect and built by volunteers under the supervision of a licensed general contractor. There are services and amenities provided on site. Each “villager” will pay a monthly fee between $250-350. This payment goes to supporting the grounds of the community. Each tiny home is between 160-300 sq ft. The space is outfitted with a kitchenette, bathroom, and a sleeping area.
Opportunity Village Eugene, OR
https://www.squareonevillages.org/opportunity
Opportunity Village is a tiny home community that is considered transitional housing for people that are unhoused. There are 30 tiny homes on site. Each home is between 60-80 sq ft. These small spaces are supported by a larger common area. The common area includes a gathering space, laundry facility, restroom, and kitchen space. There is no time limit for how long a villager may stay however the average stay is about two years.
Cottage Village Co-Op Cottage Grove, OR
https://www.squareonevillages.org/cvc
The Cottage Village is located south of Eugene, OR. Much like Emerald Village, Cottage Village offers permanent sustainable housing for low income or the unhoused. The payments per month range from $350-500. Each tiny home comes equipped with a kitchenette, bathroom, and sleeping area. The homes will be supported by a larger gathering area, kitchen, and laundry facility.
Michigan
Cass Community Social Services Detroit, MI
https://casscommunity.org/tinyhomes/
This community will include 25 tiny homes ranging from 250-400 sq ft. Each home will sit on its own lot roughly 30x100’ in size. This community is geared towards long term permanent housing for those with low income. After seven years of being an active member in the community home ownership becomes an option.
Washington
Low Income Housing Institute (Seattle area)
https://www.lihihousing.org/newvillages
This tiny home community will provide 35 homes to unhoused individuals. The village will include 24/7 operational and security staff through the Low Income Housing Institute along with onsite LIHI case management to help residents obtain permanent housing, employment, health care, and other services.
The village will include a large community kitchen, a hygiene facility with laundry, showers, and bathrooms, staff offices, other community spaces and will be surrounded by a cedar fence.
Utah
Fresh Start Ventures
https://www.freshstartventures.org/tiny-homes
Fresh Start Ventures offers a truly amazing program throughout Utah. While their approach is not geared towards a master planned tiny home community, bringing folks together is absolutely a pillar of the program. A mentoring family offers up their back yard to place a tiny home. The home is permitted as an ADU (accessory dwelling unit). A resident who has completed the housing program through Fresh Start is offered the residence. Each month the resident pays into a savings account. Once the resident has completed the housing program the “rent” they paid during their stay is awarded to them so they can find other housing. Once the program has been completed the mentoring family then receives the tiny home as payment for offering their space. It's a truly unique concept and I hope to see this approach in more communities!
The Other Side Village Salt Lake City
https://theothersidevillage.com/
The Other Side Village is a self-reliant, master-planned neighborhood that provides affordable, permanent quality housing, access to social services, and a robust and supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. Each home will average 400 sq ft of living space. The tiny homes come equipped with a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and a living space. Residents will arrive at their new home with full furnishings, a fridge full of food, and a bathroom with toiletries and supplies. This house will be theirs for the rest of their lives if they want to stay.