Inspiring Low-Cost, Self-Managed Tiny Home Village for Formerly Homeless

What does it take to create a more humane society that provides opportunities for stable, safe, and affordable housing?

Opportunity Village in Eugene, Oregon, is a successful transitional tiny home community for formerly homeless individuals and couples. Amazingly, it only costs $5 per night per person—perhaps the most cost-effective shelter program in the nation.

Their tiny homes, aka budget bungalows, are nestled in a village setting with shared common spaces and buildings. Supportive services are provided, but the community is self-governed by its residents. This adds to feeling ownership, as well as the long term sustainability of the program.

It began in 2013 as a pilot project on city-owned land and since has served over 100 people and counting. And now, many residents have transitioned to the permanently affordable Emerald Village, a community of tiny homes on a foundation.

Both were created by SquareOne Villages, a nonprofit that creates self-managed communities of cost-effective tiny homes for people in need of housing. They are continually developing new villages to serve various populations of low-income, in both urban and rural settings.

To learn more, support their work, and get resources to start your own community, visit: https://squareonevillages.org.