≡ Menu

Single Mom of 3 Buys Land and Builds Tiny Home


This post contains affiliate links.

This is the story of how a single mom of three overcomes her situation by buying her own land and building her own tiny home with her kids. Please enjoy, learn more, and re-share below. Thank you!

When Kelley Lewis was left on her own as a single mom to raise three young children, she was determined to still achieve the dreams she had in mind for her family – including a lakeside cabin for weekends and getaways. In Going Off Grid, Laura Ling examines how more Americans are choosing to live a more sustainable, simple lifestyle.

Single Mom of 3 Buys Land and Builds Tiny Home

Single Mom of 3 Buys Land and Builds Tiny Home

Images © YouTube/SeekerStories

Video: Single Mom Builds Her Own Tiny Home

Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGZynHBe7YE

You can send this incredibly inspiring tiny house story to your friends for free using the social media and e-mail share buttons below. Thanks!

If you enjoyed this tiny house story you’ll absolutely LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more! Thank you!

This post contains affiliate links.

The following two tabs change content below.

Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 31 comments… add one }
  • LouAnn Gurske
    October 13, 2015, 1:21 pm

    This story was incredibly inspiring. She picked up the pieces of her broken life and embraced the future for herself and her children and in the process healed. Wonderful. It is a blessing she had the money to purchase land, which gave her a great start.

  • Barbara
    October 13, 2015, 4:48 pm

    Love tiny houses but getting bored and discouraged. Without land it doesn’t mean anything. Honolulu has no affordable land to buy or lease. If the State would lease land I would build!

    • December 3, 2016, 2:36 pm

      Go the the Big Island – they have plenty of land.
      No restrictions and owner financing in allot of settings.

      • Michael L
        December 6, 2016, 8:55 pm

        Not only is the Big Island beautiful, but less populated. There are also several climate zones. AND some tiny house builders! Good luck with your search!

  • Matt
    October 13, 2015, 6:03 pm

    If I had three kids I wouldn’t show interior pictures either lol

    • Rhonda N
      October 13, 2015, 6:18 pm

      Absolutely not. The story is enough. It meets the criteria for Tiny House Talk.

  • October 13, 2015, 9:34 pm

    I want to do the same thing!!!

  • kimberly
    October 13, 2015, 10:40 pm

    Why bother? Wow how disappointing! Pitiful. Im personally am sooo inspired and proud of this young woman, who I have never met! The story shares the home is a work in process and maybe we will be honored further with more of her awesome story and finals pics! Much respect and admiration for her!

  • Rando
    October 14, 2015, 2:17 am

    Kelley Lewis, you are my hero. If I didn’t already have a girlfriend I would be looking for someone like you. An inspiration to all. You go girl. Great to hear that you had the kids help with the build which will give them an appreciation for what they have.

  • John
    October 14, 2015, 5:30 am

    In Holland every piece of land has a destination which is described in de destination-land-map. A piece of land which has the destination ‘building’ is rare. And if you find a piece it will cost you 150.000 euro or more. You can not just build a house anywhere and go and live there. Even if it is your own ground. How is that in this case? Is it easy to live permanently in a tiny house (even on wheels). In Holland the government would make it impossible by means of fining you to bankruptcy.

  • Guido
    October 14, 2015, 8:25 am

    Great lady…

  • Jamie
    October 15, 2015, 1:31 am

    As a single mom myself, striving to live off grid in a 19ft trailer as we save for land, I thought this would be an inspiring story. But building an off-grid vacation home just does not seem as noble as building it for your primary residence. Everyone can go off-grid temporarily; it’s called camping.

    • Barnie
      December 18, 2016, 2:09 pm

      An important point Jamie. Though it’s great to see a family bonding over this experience, enjoying nature, and each other.

  • Glema
    October 17, 2015, 5:46 am

    What state and or country are you in dear? Did I miss that part? Thank you for sharing your life and struggle with us, I am well pleased to see that God is still looking out for all of you as HE does me. God bless and happy trails!

  • Don
    November 7, 2015, 6:27 pm

    What a beautiful thing when your children can bi-pass earth and go straight to heaven. You go girl.

  • Susanne
    November 7, 2015, 7:55 pm

    …”lakeside cabin for weekends and getaways .” I admire her very much for doing this on her own, assuming she did, but she’s doing well if this is not their primary home.

  • Mike
    November 7, 2015, 9:34 pm

    Like many here I am impressed and encouraged by Kelley’s Tiny Home determination. It’s not explicitly stated whether this is a cabin or residence so I’ll assume that it’s a home. When I read about these kinds of stories one thing that worries me is if Kelley will get harassed from local child service authorities. 4 people living in a 200 sq ft space with no legal bedrooms, unknown local residential zoning rules, and uncertain water and sanitation services, it’s not likely something that would garner alot of government support, even if she does own the property and is fully caring for herself and children. So, I hope that she has looked into these things and is prepared for any legal difficulties that could come her way. I thank her for her example of courage and wish her the best.

    • Johnebegood
      November 8, 2015, 8:53 pm

      Mike, I agree the modern regulations are beyond ridiculous. My mother grew up in a 2-bedroom house on a small farm in the 1940’s and 1950’s with my grandparents, my great grandmother, and five siblings, and it was not a problem with the government. I have a friend who grew up outside of Birmingham, Alabama in an off the grid home with his parents and sister in the 1980’s & 1990’s. He and his sister were under strict orders to never talk about their living situation. However, the experience was great, and he’d do it again.

    • annie
      December 3, 2016, 3:57 pm

      there are homeless children, many, staying with their single mom’s in shelters, states have rules for foster parents and for adoptive parents, but these are her own children, and she’s put a roof over their heads. I can’t think of a state that has square foot requirements for biological parents.

      • Carolyn
        December 4, 2016, 12:08 am

        It’s sad to think that Child Protective Services would prefer that the children continue to live in foster homes or group homes, rather than live with a loving family living with no running water and no legal bedrooms. Families have lived in those conditions for thousands of years, and current rules thinks that it is now “uninhabitable”. Ridiculous!

  • Barbara
    November 7, 2015, 9:57 pm

    What a courageous woman and what fortunate children to learn what it means to do your best for your family. Kelley is indeed a great inspiration to anyone who understands what she did, most of all her children, with incredible fortitude and imagination. Bravo!

  • Shirley
    December 3, 2016, 6:25 pm

    You are a champion and a true winner in my book. May your blessings abound!

    • Natalie
      December 5, 2016, 9:52 am

      That she is 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team

  • INVSBLTY
    December 3, 2016, 7:11 pm

    That is a wonderful video! I am happy for you and your children! Keep going strong!

    • Natalie
      December 5, 2016, 9:52 am

      Me too 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team

  • jm
    December 3, 2016, 7:33 pm

    And why is she called a bad-assed single mom? I know she had to design this house without a pc…and it was a challenge. But, well, good for her! Hmmm…I can barely recall all the design work I did with a pencil…and sharpener…
    Earth IS heaven. And yet…I can’t fault authorities for looking after the welfare of children. We all ask “how” when something goes wrong.

    • Natalie
      December 5, 2016, 9:53 am

      I think they are using the term in the “she’s amazing/awesome/spectacular” sense 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team

  • Cat
    December 3, 2016, 8:30 pm

    I love the story (and the house with location)! What an inspiration to all and especially to women. When one puts their mind to something, they can move the world! You should be more than proud of yourself and the fantastic memories you are making with your children. Peace and love to you.

    • Natalie
      December 5, 2016, 9:54 am

      Yes! A huge inspiration. — Tiny House Talk Team

  • ROSEE
    December 4, 2016, 5:15 pm

    Saw this TH last year online. And I hope that she got the house finished this year. A job well done for a young woman with children. Loved that she spends her well planned time with them. An inspiration to us women. Two thumbs up!

    • Natalie
      December 5, 2016, 9:54 am

      Yes I hope everything goes well for her. — Tiny House Talk Team

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.