Occupy Madison: First tiny home for homeless complete

[Joe Shlabotnik]

They've spent the past few months sawing, painting, and now just the finishing touches remain.

"Everybody did a part. It's been a community effort” says Betty Ybarra, who will be moving into the first of many tiny homes being built by Occupy Madison.

"It's exciting. I've never owned my own house” says Ybarra.

Each house is 98 square feet, comes with a bathroom and kitchen, and costs around $3,000 dollars. They are being paid for by community donations.

"There's no comparison between having a place to go at night, and close the door, and sleep comfortably, and not freeze to death or have your possessions stolen. There's no substitute for that” says Luca Clemente, one of the project organizers.

Occupy Madison hopes to complete 10 tiny homes by the end of 2014.
Right now, they don't have a permanent spot to put the houses, but are working with area churches to get temporary lots of land.

Take a tour! Video at link: http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Group-builds-tiny-homes-for-local-homeless-218449881.html

[Scuba]

1. Madison may be the greatest city in America.

[MNBrewer]

2. I love those tiny homes

and I would like to think that I could live in it comfortably, but it would be an adjustment.

[Heather MC]

7. Agreed

I am a tiny homes Junkie. I am actively working on down sizing all my crap I want to live in a small home one day. I am sick of mortgages and not being able to save more money. And moving into a small apartment for renting would create it's own set of problems as well.

I want to live rent and mortgage free someday

[DeSwiss]

3. K&R

http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/

http://tinyhouseblog.com/

http://tinygreencabins.com/

[sheshe2]

4. Okay, this brought a tear to my eye.

Thank you Madison for your compassion. A tiny home maybe, yet for someone on the streets this is a palace. It is hope and security a sense belonging. There is nothing tiny about that.

Thank you for this thread Joe.

[eridani]

12. An for someone not homeless, it can be a highly desirable simplification of daily--

--maintenance routines.

[ErikJ]

5. Wouldnt small trailers be cheaper?

Maybe not as nice. I've always thought they should have high-rises of those sleeping capsules like the "salary men" of Japan stay in instead of commuting home after a late night. Charge a few $ a night or whatever. Have it well patrolled to keep order.

[Maraya1969]

8. It just so happened that "Design Milk" posted something about homes made from shipping

http://design-milk.com/12-homes-made-from-shipping-containers/

containers. They sound like a great idea and they don't use up new wood.

And those tiny green cabins, (or one of the links) started at $35,000 and this Occupy home was built for $3,000.

I guess that is the difference between looking for a profit and just helping someone.

I would love to get involved in making these or something for our homeless population. We have a lot here in Florida probably because of the weather.

[dembotoz]

6. family has a vacation trailer on a seasonal site--fairly small but i love it

i think i could live in it
up in wisconsin campground is closed in winter but
i think i could be happy there.

don't need that much space
really don't

[handmade34]

9. good! n/t

[840high]

10. k/r

[ReRe]

11. K&R

That is the best idea I've seen come across the .nets lately. And they are doing it in Madison! Surely all the hoity-toities who look down there noses and resent beggars & homeless folk would be willing to make a donation for these little shelters. Homeless people are dying tonight with hypothermia out there in the raw elements. Hope this catches on, and it could, because OWS groups, naysayers notwithstanding, are all over this country.
"Someone saved, someone saved, someone saved my life tonight...."... sing it with me...