Last week a friend invited me to visit a warehouse in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood where an assembly line is constructing tiny homes to provide safer and more secure housing for homeless individuals.
Here’s what I found amazing about this operation.
Sound Foundations NW runs the assembly line with just one paid employee, Barb Oliver, director of operations. All of the construction workers are volunteers from community and church groups, service clubs, and individuals who show up to help.
The tiny homes are about 100 square feet in size, have a lockable front door, two windows, heavy-duty insulation, and electricity. They are small, for sure, but so much better than living in a tent in a park, on a sidewalk, or in a vehicle.
Because all construction labor is by volunteers — you don’t need specialized skills, they have tasks for everyone — the cost of a tiny home is only about $3,800 for materials and they’re built to last 20 years. (More volunteer builders are needed; click here to sign up. You can see how the tiny homes are built for yourself by clicking here.)
Tiny homes are effective in transitioning people out of homelessness. A recent report showed that 34% of tiny home residents eventually moved to permanent housing. That’s a success rate better than more expensive forms of emergency shelter (23%).
I was so impressed by the tiny home assembly line I quickly made a donation to support the work. You can, too. It’s a way to become directly involved in addressing the crisis of homelessness in Seattle.
Sound Foundations NW accepts donations through the Low Income Housing Institute, one of the organizations which uses the tiny homes and provides case management services to their residents. You can donate here. Be sure to select Sound Foundations NW in the drop-down donation category/designation menu.
All donations go toward building materials and supplies — 100%. Here are some examples of how your dollars can do good work:
$135 pays for tiny home flooring materials.
$180 buys a 5-gallon bucket of paint.
$215 buys the two windows.
$300 buys insulation.
$665 buys the lumber for the frame.
$3,800 pays for one complete tiny home. Any donation amount will be greatly appreciated.
Tiny homes are not a permanent solution to homelessness, but they are a safe, secure and warm alternative to living outside.
Let’s do our part to provide the materials the volunteers will put to excellent use. It’s a step in addressing the encampments that have disrupted our parks, sidewalks and other public spaces.
I hope you will join me in supporting Sound Foundations Northwest. Let me know if you do.