Dee Williams is one of the most influential figures in the modern tiny house movement. After a health scare prompted her to reevaluate her priorities, she built an 84-square-foot house on wheels for less than $10,000 and parked it in a friend’s backyard—a decision that would inspire thousands of others to rethink their relationship with space and possessions.
The House That Started a Movement
Dee’s tiny house demonstrates that comfortable living doesn’t require much space. Her approach prioritizes simplicity over amenities:
- 84 square feet of living space on a trailer
- One-burner stove for cooking
- Composting toilet (no traditional plumbing)
- No shower—she uses her host home’s facilities
- Minimal utility costs due to the tiny footprint
The house sits in her friends’ backyard, an arrangement that exemplifies the community-oriented approach many tiny house dwellers adopt.
Photo Credit: Tammy Strobel
From Tiny House Dweller to Educator
Dee didn’t just build a tiny house—she built a teaching platform. Along with her business partner Katy, she founded Portland Alternative Dwellings (PAD), which offers:
- Hands-on workshops teaching people to build their own tiny homes
- Building plans for various tiny house designs
- Resources for navigating the practical challenges of tiny living
Her book Go House Go covers the fundamentals of building a tiny house on wheels, from trailer selection to finishing touches.
Video: Dee Williams PBS Interview
This in-depth PBS interview (13 minutes) explores Dee’s philosophy, her daily life in the tiny house, and the broader implications of micro-homesteading:
Why Dee’s Approach Matters
Dee Williams’ tiny house represents more than just small-space living. Her story highlights several key principles that continue to resonate with the tiny house community:
- Health and priorities: A life change often sparks the move to tiny living
- Community over isolation: Living in someone’s backyard creates mutual support
- Teaching others: Knowledge-sharing strengthens the movement
- Radical simplicity: Questioning which amenities are truly necessary
- Affordability: Building for under $10,000 proves tiny houses can be accessible
Dee Williams’ journey from conventional homeowner to tiny house pioneer demonstrates that downsizing isn’t about deprivation—it’s about intentionally choosing what matters most.
Related: Dee Williams Tiny House Tour
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Alex
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I like it but I would want one with a shower. I like how rustic it looks. Having low utility bills is a bonus. 🙂
One great advantage of a tiny house is it may be able to dance right around various building codes. Areas that would ban these tiny homes if they were not mobile are not uncommon. And in other areas taking the wheels and axles off the unit may allow it to meet the codes.
But the ultimate may well be the tiny home or camper built into an old boat hull on a boat trailer. Areas that outlaw both campers and tiny houses may well have no enforcement at all over boats on trailers unless the boat is in public waters.
Sometimes getting around local governments is the greatest of all challenges.
Now THAT sounds like an interesting challenge!
Thanks for coming by BigWarp!
Right on Jim. The boat idea can be a smart way to get around it too. Thanks for stopping by here.
Yes, I have seen her home. I now live in one, too, on the back of a retiree’s paid off property of long ago. I pay NO rent, I shower at her place, which is a big home, and I barter my time to help her around the 4 acres here in rural Arkansas. I compost, and my kitchen is outside of my tiny home. My tiny home sits in the meadow facing the lake. I finished Henderson State University without a job, and I downsized more of my already small lifestyle. I have no regerts. 4 stars to Dee Williams and her new company!!! (I never adopted the OPRAH lifestyle!)
Woman of color with Eco Nappy Hair, barefooin, drinking spring water in south central sunny Arkansas