Tiny homes for homeless youth

Two-hundred square feet may sound small, but advocates for homeless youth are hoping it will be big enough to fix Lanark County's affordable housing problem.

Cornerstone Landing a non-profit that provides assistance for homeless youth and Algonquin College have teamed up to build tiny homes to house youthon private property.

The prototype model will be unveiled Wednesday in Perth, Ont. It's the only one so far, but there are plans to build more if bylaws are changed to allow them and enough volunteers sign up to house them on their property.

Social agencies in Lanark Countysay a lack of affordable housing for young people is a significant problem.

"One thing that breaks my heart every winter is when you get that phone call at nine o'clock at night for a 17-year-old who issleeping outside, and you have no place to offer them," said the chair of Cornerstone's board,Terrilee Kelford.

We've slept on streets, in alleys, on park slides, and been scared out of our minds about what's going to happen the next day with no shelter. It's something we don't want our children to have to live through.- Lea Maurice, business owner and fundraiser

Kelfordhas seen youth living in trailers with no running water,as well as sleeping in parks, under bridges, in cars and in tents. She saidyouth in Lanarkhave three options: emergency housing in a hotel, a bus ride to the nearest shelter in an urban centre,or the streets.

But after today, a tiny house could be a fourth option.

Could this tiny home be a solution to homelessness?

5 years ago

Duration 1:43

Terrilee Kelford, chair of Cornerstone Landing Youth Services, says the 200-square-foot home is meant to serve as a solution for homeless youth in Lanark County.

LeaMaurice and her husband experienced homelessness in their youth andrememberthe harsh conditions.

That past motivated Maurice, a business owner, to help organize fundraisers for theproject.

"We'veslept on streets, in alleys,on park slides,and been scared out of our minds about what's going to happen the next day with no shelter. It's something wedon't want our children to have to live through," she said.

"Knowing you've got somewhere to go is amazing. I'd live in [a tiny house]myself, if I didn't have a million kids."

'It does give a sense of home'

5 years ago

Duration 0:53

Lea Maurice says she experienced homelessness in her youth and having a home like this could have made a big difference.

The $85,000 tiny home includes awasher and dryer, a bathroom, kitchen and living room.It hasa composting toiletand connects to the homeowner's water and hydro.

Organizers are looking for volunteers willing to host future tiny houses on their property. The eight-by-24 homes are on wheels andcan be moved to a willing landowner's preferred spot.

Cornerstone has found one volunteer so far who has committed to make room for a tiny home.

Thenext obstacle is municipal bylaws that don't currently allow these structures on private property.

Tay Valley was the first township inLanarkto update its bylaws and support tiny homes.Perth another town within the County of Lanark is working on updating its legislation to allow them.

"Tiny homes are the way of the future, and I am confident that we will have a bylaw in place to accommodatetiny homes this fall," said Perth Mayor John Fenik.

Building blocks

Cornerstone is planning to hit the road with the prototype tiny home, making stops across across eastern Ontarioto encourage municipalities that don't allow themto update their bylaws.

"Just today Igot a call about a 24-year-old homeless person. And it kills me because we're not quiteready," Kelford said.

"But I'm determined that this will be up and running by fall.I don't want another winterwhere I am getting phone calls about young people sleeping outside."