Addressing Homelessness
This is why I am so passionate about tiny homes as an affordable housing option and as a means of providing Housing First to the homeless.
Tag: Tiny Home
Wood Products Sponsor
Today’s Shout-Out goes to Goodfellow Inc. for wood products.
We needed some quality wood products for the tiny home build and reached out to Goodfellow as we knew they carried the products we needed. Rene passed along our request to the owners and they wanted to contribute to the home build, as well as supporting the donation of the house to charity after the tour. While we had some challenges on our end trying to coordinate picking up the product from their Ottawa location, Rene and Patrick were able to accommodate us and deliver the product to Kingston. Thanks, guys!
Heating Sponsor
Well as things are getting back to normal, we have begun adding the product sponsors to the website once again. We have had a lot of positive support pouring in over the last while, which has renewed our enthusiasm for the Tiny Town Association project.
One of the first companies to become a corporate partner on the Association website was InfraredHeat.ca and we are pleased to be able to thank them for sponsoring an infrared heating panel. This is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of heating available, not to mention attractive.
Status Update
I am encouraged by the support coming in for the Tiny Town Association and our advocacy tour. People and companies are letting us know they want us to continue our work to address affordable housing and homelessness in Canada with tiny homes. The appreciation for our initiative to promote the tiny home auction for Habitat for Humanity during the tour, and the exposure that it will generate as a fundraiser for them, is fueling our social desire.
I was really touched by the number of PMs from people wishing they could fund the completion of the tiny home themselves, but I wasn’t looking for one person. This is a project that affects us all, so I’m looking for people to come together and support it collectively. If everyone will put $20 towards the tour, together we can make it happen. That is the miracle of crowdfunding. When you give a bit because you believe in a cause and get your friends to do the same, you decide which social initiatives happen with just $20! Even if you don’t have the social influence to get friends to contribute, you are still part of my social network, so please help.
We have never given up on our belief in what we are doing. It has not ended, it is just changing. We have a plan, but it is fluid, not concrete. When something leaves the plan, it creates a hole and often what fills the hole makes the plan stronger. We expect to have some exciting news about the tour next week.
Together we can make tiny homes a legal housing option in Canada.
Tour 2018 Update
So today I am facing the potential end of the tiny home tour. The company I have been working with to build the model tiny home has told me they need me to pay for the work they have done beyond what they are able to sponsor for the model home. They have offered to buy me out for the cash I have put in, then finish the home at their cost, and lease it back to me when I am ready to go on the tour. They gave me until 1pm today to decide. The trailer manufacturer (whom didn’t sponsor the trailer) has told me I need to pay the balance of the cost of the trailer as well. I feel no ill-will to either company, as I understand they have bills they need to pay too.
However, I feel that although they say they will lease the house to me for the tour, because they have repeatedly expressed doubt in my ability to make the tour happen, they will complete the house and sell it, offering to build another when I am “ready” to make the tour. The fact that it would then be their house, they can then control if and when that would happen, based on their opinion of my readiness to take their house on tour.
My bills with the builder and the trailer manufacturer are $24,000. If you can support my effort to raise the funds to take over the completion of the tiny home and begin the tour with a GoFundMe pledge, I will see if there is enough support overall to proceed, if not I will fold the GoFundMe campaign returning your donation.
I have only until 1pm to see if there is support for our tiny home initiatives from people willing to put their money in to help.
Rental Issues
On my LinkedIn feed I came across a post by THAC about rental issues, so I checked out the article relating to issues in Alberta. I followed the data to the source and found some distressing statistics. Rental is a growing issue across Canada.
Here’s the details: http://www.rentalhousingindex.ca/en/#comp_prov
Our ARTO Program is a way of addressing some of issues right now that will improve with time.
Logan32 Flooring Sponsor
A shout-out to End of the Roll. They arranged sponsorship of the flooring for the Logan32. A laminate click vinyl flooring that is waterproof! We’ve chosen to use this flooring throughout the home because it is a smaller space, the continuity should add to the open feel of the home. Can’t wait to see it installed!
Tiny Home Tour GoFundMe
We launched our GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for our Tiny Home Tour 2018. Help us get the Logan32 on the road this year to visit 49-cities across Ontario. This will be a major event to bring tiny homes into the spotlight and present a zoning bylaw framework that cities and municipalities can build on to enable tiny homes. We have some special Rewards that you can claim by joining the Association (free) and by donating to the campaign.
Update: Unfortunately the tour was cancelled and all donations have gone into a fund to build a new tiny home.
Logan32 Lighting Sponsor
Today’s shout-out goes to Kingston Lighting for getting Feiss, Kuzco, and Satco together to provide stylish lighting for the Logan32. Lisa worked some magic and got these three manufacturers to provide track lighting, under and over cabinet lighting, ceiling fan lighting, vanity lighting and outside lighting. I can’t wait to see it all come together!
Logan32 Window & Door Sponsor
Today’s shout-out goes to Dalmen Windows & Doors in Ottawa. Not only did the whole team work together to meet our crazy deadline, but they provided us with some beautiful windows and doors for the Logan32. I was checking out their website, and I am impressed with the technologies they are using in their products. Thanks, Dominic for making this happen. I am really glad I found Dalmen, and they are going to be the first choice for a number of projects.