Tiny Homes Could Change the Lives of Detroit’s Homeless
Cass Community in Detroit, Michigan is a nonprofit social service organization dedicated to supporting locals with low-incomes who need food, housing, health services and employment. Aside from preparing and serving over one million meals annually for those in need, operating a free weekly medical clinic and a day program for adults with developmental disabilities, they recently launched a program within their outreach services called ‘Tiny Home’, which provides home ownership for formerly homeless and low-income populations.
The Cass Community is in the process of building 25 different tiny homes, ranging from 250-400 square feet, on its premises. The Tiny Homes are entirely built upon the community: professional trades people construct the houses along with volunteers who manage other jobs including tiling, painting, gardening, building front porches, decks and fences.
The project is funded by financial contributions and donated building materials from bricks to paint. The residents, from various backgrounds, include the elderly, college students and formerly homeless, and all have low-income statuses.
They will initially rent the homes at a subsidized price and after seven years they will be given the opportunity to own the home and property – something that not only gives them hope and refuge, but also a guiding symbol of how far they have come.
