About:

 

Tiny Houses Greensboro began in 2012, after a conversation about society’s constant desire for large housing. This conversation between board members of the Interactive Resource Center morphed into the question: why do so many people have a difficult time finding affordable housing in Greensboro?

 

The conversation resulted in the formation of the nonprofit. Three years later, a tiny house prototype was constructed and a board of members was created.

 

What sets Tiny Houses Greensboro apart from other housing construction nonprofits is that those living in the tiny houses will be people who have experienced homelessness. With this, the group runs on 30 percent community funding and 100 percent volunteer work.

 

“We are such an affluent nation, and we seem to have an affluent city, there seems to be an overwhelming number of people who can’t afford housing,” said Teri Hammer, the vice chair of Tiny Houses Greensboro. “This is one way we can make a difference.”

 

The group is working on their first village community at 4120 Causey Street. “Our goal is not to make cookie-cutters, each [house] is going to have their unique style,” said Jon Dowell, the vice chair of construction.

 

Each house will be rented out for 30 percent of the renter's income. This percentage matches the amount of money most people spend on housing in the United States.

 

A maximum of two people will live in a single house.

 

Anyone that wants to live in a tiny house needs to apply. Applicants are then vetted by Greensboro Housing Coalition, Servant Center and Youth Focus.

 

“I think our goal is to have a number of villages throughout the city to continue to provide affordable housing,” said Hammer, adding that the group estimates building eight to nine more villages.

 

So far, funding and volunteer work have come from various places. To find out if you can help out by building tiny houses, send an email to the email address located above.

If you want to assist the nonprofit by donating money, go to the group’s CrowdRise page at https://www.crowdrise.com/tinyhouses.