VANCOUVER, Wash. — Monday was a big day on O Street in Vancouver. The neighborhood received a new community of tiny homes. Seven pre-built homes were craned in to waiting foundations.
The roughly 735-square foot homes will house four to five people each, giving those who are struggling a way out of homelessness.
“I’m glad it's happening because we need to get people off the street,” said Stephen Cox, one of 11 already living in a large building on the property, being developed by non-profit Community Roots Collaborative. The building was a former Sikh temple before the property was acquired for the project.
The new tiny homes are for those who are below 30% of median income — and priority goes to those who have been living in shelters.
Setting up the tiny homes required a big crane, hard work, and precision to lift them up in the air, maneuver them in place, and set them perfectly into position.
It's been a two-year process to get grants and community support to get to this day.
“To me, it just feels magical that all this work and all these people come together and everyone makes it happen, and then you get this,” said Peggy Sheehan, executive director of Community Roots Collaborative.
The crane drew a small crowd, fascinated with the process of setting the houses. It also drew a local state representative.
“I'm here to celebrate the work of our community and all the people here have been working so hard on this," said Monica Stonier, who represents Vancouver’s District 49 — the district this project is in. "Just really excited to see what it's going to offer our community."
There isn't an application process for renters. People will be referred from homeless agencies. The cost, utilities included, will be about 800 dollars a month per home. The rent money will go to pay utilities and offset some of the operation costs.
And now that the homes are in place, there's a summer's worth of work to get them move-in ready — which should be in September.
Community Roots Collaborative has another tiny house community already operating in the Fruit Valley neighborhood of Vancouver. The non-profit welcomes support from the community to continue its work.