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This is the story of how backyard tiny houses are helping to solve California’s housing problem, specifically in Clovis city where city planners have made it easier for homeowners to build a backyard tiny cottage on their current lot. Here’s how it works…

They are giving homeowners three house plans to choose from (for free). The designs are 400-square-feet or less and are only available to homeowners in the area who have a lot with access to an alleyway, which is common in Old Town Clovis. There are other perks and incentives, too. But what’s the catch? This is having an overall very positive impact on the community so it’s a win/win for the city and the homeowners. Do you think other townships should take notice of this strategy?

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Clovis City, California Helping Homeowners Build Affordable Backyard Tiny Homes w/ their ‘Backyard Cottage Program’! Here’s How…

Backyard Tiny Houses Are Helping California's Housing Problem (And Beyond): Here's How... via Faircompanies

Images via Faircompanies/YouTube

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Have you ever thought, “I’d like to scale down my life, live simpler, smaller”? Or maybe you have some rural land where you relax on weekends and holidays. And it wouldn’t hurt if you helped the environment as a bonus, right? Well, check out the Containers of Hope affordable housing unit, designed by architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe.

It’s hard to believe the house was constructed from two 40-foot shipping containers, connected side-by-side, split by a “hallway” with a raised ceiling. This clean and open design, along with the brightness of the home’s many windows, creates an impression of spaciousness in the small, but incredibly functional home.

Affordable? Absolutely! The original house was built in 2011 for only $40,000! You will be amazed at how functional this small “green” home can be! Please enjoy and re-share below. Thank you.

Containers of Hope Affordable Housing

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Images © Andres Garcia Lachner

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Right now I wanted to share this man’s DIY tiny cabin for affordable living.

It just goes to show you how simple you can really make your own tiny house project.

It doesn’t have to be on wheels. It doesn’t have to be made with the most expensive materials. And it can still be nice and do its job just right.

Mine ain’t fancy, but it works 😉

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205236690934427&set=o.117537014936981&type=1&theater

Man’s DIY Tiny Cabin for Affordable Living

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Images © David C Newman

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A Vietnam based architecture firm, Vo Trong Nghia Architects, has began developing prefabricated housing for low income families in Vietnam. This concept of tiny housing would provide the people with not only a safe place to live but a durable long-term shelter too.

Since 2012 the firm has been working to create these houses for those who earn less than $100/month. Normally these people would be forced to live in temporary shacks. So the architects are creating what they call the S House 2 which can provide affordable, durable, low cost and low maintenance homes for those in need.

The current cost to develop one of these homes in Vietnam is $4,000. Below you will see that this 322 sq. ft. home is very basic. The only thing I’m concerned about is the bathroom which I wasn’t able to find but assume is located as a separate structure nearby (see below).

The S House 2 is a long structure with a sleeping area at one end, dining table in the middle, and a space for personal items at the other end. Please enjoy below.

$4k Affordable Tiny Housing in Vietnam

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Images © Hiroyuki Oki/Vo Trong Nghia Architects

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So far there have been a few areas in the United States adopting the tiny house movement’s principles as a way to uplift and empower the homeless using tiny house villages. That’s right. Tiny homes for the homeless.

We’ve seen it in Seattle. We’ve seen it in Texas. We’ve seen it in Wisconsin. We’ve seen it in Eugene, Oregon (Emerald & Opportunity Village). We’ve seen it in Chico, California.

And we’ve even seen success stories, like this formerly homeless couple who have been happily living tiny for 6+ months now.

The question is, where is it going to happen next?

One place that seems to be making definitive plans for it is Portland, Oregon where the mayor, Charlie Hales, is enamored with the concept.

Tiny House Villages Coming to Portland, OR to Benefit Homeless

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Image © TechDwell

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I’m glad to announce that a team of good hearted people in Chico, California have organized the Chico Housing Action Team and their mission is to bring a tiny house village to serve their homeless population.

Right now there’s a growing trend of tiny house villages and communities being created to help the homeless population throughout the United States. I list current communities in this page.

If everything goes as planned for Chico’s first tiny house community it will open Winter 2014. This ‘village’ model has been working successfully in Portland for more than a decade and is now spreading throughout the country to benefit more people in need of truly affordable housing.

Related: Business Man Creates Tiny House Village for Homeless

Tiny House Village for Homeless in Chico, CA

Enjoy the rest of this story (and links) below and if it feels right please re-share this story using the share buttons to help us spread the word on affordable tiny homes as a solution to homelessness below:
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I had to share this story with you on a couple who has been living simply in a tiny house for the last six months and counting.

Christopher Derek and Betty Ybarra have been living in this micro cabin since December 2013. And it’s all of just 98 sq. ft.

The formerly homeless couple now have a solid roof over their heads. They park on the street and are required to move every two days to be compliant with city laws.

Formerly Homeless Couple Living Simply in Tiny House

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This YMCA in London has began launching (approved!) affordable shipping container housing (MyPads) in London.

The shipping container micro housing units are so small that they easily fit in parking lots and campuses. And they’re stackable too.

This is already giving two people a chance to live affordably without having to stress about money so much while working and getting their education.

And the YMCA is already planning on deploying several more units as soon as possible to meet the demand of over 100 (and growing) other people in the area on a list wanting to live in one too.

According to the video you can watch below they cost just over $30k each.

Affordable Shipping Container Housing in London Approved

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I encourage you to learn more by watching the video with YMCA director and getting the video tour of one of these micro shipping container homes below:
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