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Tiny homes offer innovative solution to homelessness in Seattle

-Such small spaces can make a huge impact on a persons life.

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Tiny homes offer innovative solution to homelessness in Seattle

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-Partnerships to build these homes to help the homeless
- Zoning Provisions
- Can be seen working in Portland, Oregon; Seattle Washington

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Homelessness is a serious problem facing numerous communities throughout Washington - and there are no easy solutions. As an alternative to having the homeless sleep in tents, some cities are starting to use "tiny houses" as shelters.

For the purposes of this post, a "tiny house" is defined as a small structure (from 70-200 square feet in size) designed to provide temporary shelter for the homeless, usually with insulation and electrical wiring but without bathroom or cooking facilities (although they are provided nearby). Tiny homes are usually intended to be used as an interim step until permanent housing is found. These small structures are viewed as being a better option than having people sleep on the streets or in tents, especially during the cold and wet winter months.

You may be curious about who is actually using tiny houses to provide temporary shelter for the homeless. The answer is that a few communities throughout the U.S. are doing so, with some of the more notable examples being in the Pacific Northwest.

Tiny House Communities in Washington and Oregon

Dignity Village in Portland, Oregon, is a successful, tiny house community that was first started in 2001 and has been at its current, city-owned site in northeast Portland since 2004. It offers housing, food, bathrooms, a mailing address, and some job opportunities for nearly 60 homeless adults. Dignity Village operates as a nonprofit in partnership with the city, which provides the land and funding for a dedicated social worker to help the site's residents. The city contracts with Dignity Village to manage the site and its operation, and it sees the village as a transitional housing option for a homeless person until a permanent residence is located, which is reflected in Dignity Village's "two-year maximum stay" standard. It has been reported that Dignity Village was one of the models used for Seattle's approach to tiny homes as one way to house the homeless.

The Seattle-based nonprofit Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) has been sponsoring tiny house "villages" in the city since late 2015/early 2016. Currently, there are three LIHI-sponsored villages in the neighborhoods of Ballard, Othello and the Central District. Each tiny house has electrical wiring, is moveable and costs approximately $2,300 in materials and supplies. Each unit is 8 feet by 12 feet in size, has two windows and a lockable door and is insulated. They are brought onto the site via flatbed truck and placed on pier blocks. Construction labor is donated by volunteers or local vocational training programs, according to Bradford Gerber, LIHI's essential needs coordinator. An LIHI village includes a kitchen tent, dining/community area, restrooms, shower facilities and a security structure (with at least two people on security duty).

Like Portland's Dignity Village, LIHI's tiny house villages are self-managed, with residents having a voice on operational and management issues. The two villages on city-owned land (Ballard and Othello) will be allowed to occupy these sites for a maximum of two years before having to find a new location.

LIHI develops and manages permanent affordable housing sites (with over 2,000 dwelling units) but views these tiny house villages as a way to provide a safe and warm place for the homeless to live while transitioning to permanent housing. Given the success of the tiny house villages described above, the city recently requested LIHI establish two additional villages in the South Seattle and Licton Spring neighborhoods. Each village will contain 30-40 tiny houses and is scheduled to be operational by early spring, 2017.

Another example - Quixote Village in Olympia, which provides permanent, supportive housing for homeless adults through a site that contains 30 tiny houses and shared facilities - is discussed in 3 Innovative Local Approaches to Tackling Homelessness.

How to Address Tiny House Villages in Your Zoning Code?

But how should your zoning code address tiny houses when used as transitional housing for the homeless? It's a complicated question but there are some steps that a few cities have already taken. The Portland City Council adopted a resolution formally designating the Dignity Village site a campground that provides "transitional housing accommodations" for "persons who lack permanent shelter and cannot be placed in other low income housing."

Seattle created a new set of zoning provisions that allow transitional encampment as an interim use, with requirements related to several subjects, including location, community outreach, and operational issues. For other local governments, it will likely take adoption of similar development standards that provide for specific allowances or "exceptions" from zoning codes when tiny homes are used to house the homeless.

While the examples described in this blog post are from larger cities, the overall approach should be applicable for most cities, towns and counties in Washington State. Tiny houses are not an "end all" solution, but they are a low-cost method for housing the homeless, at least on a temporary basis, and they are one approach that local governments should consider using when addressing homelessness in their communities.

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How cities launch tiny house villages to shelter the homeless

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Homelessness is a serious problem facing numerous communities throughout Washington - and there are no easy solutions. As an alternative to having the homeless sleep in tents, some cities are starting to use "tiny houses" as shelters.

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Homelessness is an unavoidable problem in the United States, and there should be adequate housing as well as resources for all humans.

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Here's a great resource of policy and information on what the Federal government is doing to aid in the fight against homelessness.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness states that the federal government has promoted evidence-based approaches to end homelessness and that homelessness is a bipartisan issue, harming individuals and rural, urban and suburban communities.

The housing shortage and rising rents in communities across the nation are direct threats to the progress made. Advocates must call on Congress to maintain a commitment to ending homelessness.

Federal Funding for Homelessness Programs:

HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program is at the core of federal efforts to end homelessness. Each year, HUD awards Homeless Assistance Grants to communities that administer housing and services at the local level. Congress should invest in proven solutions to homelessness by providing at least $3.415 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants in FY 2021.

Affordable Housing:

Since 1980, housing affordability has been the key driver of increases in homelessness. There are four programs that represent almost all federal spending for affordable housing assistance for people with the lowest incomes: Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing Operating Funds, and Public Housing Capital Grants. Together, these programs provide affordable rental housing for more than 5 million people in 2.2 million households.

Link Below:

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We've made progress because the federal government has promoted evidence-based approaches - and because Congress has long recognized that homelessness is a bipartisan issue, harming individuals and rural, urban and suburban communities.

But the housing shortage and rising rents in communities across the nation are direct threats to the progress we've made. Advocates must call on Congress to maintain a commitment to ending homelessness.
Learn more below about key policy areas that will affect homelessness, and how you can make your communities' needs known to Congress.
Federal Funding for Homelessness Programs

HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program is at the core of federal efforts to end homelessness. Each year, HUD awards Homeless Assistance Grants to communities that administer housing and services at the local level. Congress should invest in proven solutions to homelessness by providing at least $3.415 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants in FY 2021.

Affordable Housing

Since 1980, housing affordability has been the key driver of increases in homelessness. There are four programs that represent almost all federal spending for affordable housing assistance for people with the lowest incomes: Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing Operating Funds, and Public Housing Capital Grants. Together, these programs provide affordable rental housing for more than 5 million people in 2.2 million households.

Relevant Legislation: What Congress is Doing Now

Congress is currently weighing multiple bills that will affect homelessness. See which pieces of legislation the Alliance is tracking, and what impact they would have.

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Policy - National Alliance to End Homelessness

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We've made progress because the federal government has promoted evidence-based approaches - and because Congress has long recognized that homelessness is a bipartisan issue, harming individuals and rural, urban and suburban communities. But the housing shortage and rising rents in communities across the nation are direct threats to the progress we've made.

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Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) 

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Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) 

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- Housing Vouchers & Assistance
- 811 Project Rental Assistance Program
- Disability resources
- Homeless Program Funding

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MSHDA - MI State Housing Development Authority

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Michigan State Housing Development Authority - MI State Housing Development Authority

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- Provides what the state of Michigan's plan is to end homelessness.
- Annual report, Homeless data
- Events
- Homeless Assistance resources
-Many advocacy resources and information

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Welcome to Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness

Welcome to Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness

Because the problem is so devastating, so large, and so challenging, our response must be both compassionate and bold. That's why, in 2006, Michigan announced a statewide plan to end homelessness. [More...]

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MCTEH - Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness

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Because the problem is so devastating, so large, and so challenging, our response must be both compassionate and bold. That's why, in 2006, Michigan announced a statewide plan to end homelessness. [More...]

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The Right to Adequate Housing

Covers all areas related to homelessness and just what is the right to adequate housing.

Explains how all populations of people are impacted by homelessness

Human rights all interrelated, "The violation of the right to adequate housing may affect the enjoyment of a wide range of other human rights and vice versa" United Nations (2014)

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- United Nations webpage that offers many valuable resources on homelessness and human rights violations.

- Definitions of homelessness

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The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, commonly known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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Information provided from Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

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Definitions of homelessness used by UN
- Individuals living in the streets
- Living in open spaces or cars;
- Living in temporary emergency accommodation
-Individuals in shelters, camps or other temporary accommodation provided to internally displaced persons, refugees or migrants
- People living in severely inadequate and insecure housing
Homelessness and human rights. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/Homelessnessandhumanrights.aspx#other

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This resource details just some of the causes of homelessness.

Such as:

Lack of Housing Options: More than at any other time, there is a lack of housing that low income people can afford. Without housing options, people face eviction, instability and homelessness.

Lack of Income: Low income households often do not earn enough to pay for food, clothing, transportation and a place they can call home.

Health Issues: Health and homelessness are inextricably linked. Health problems can cause a person’s homelessness as well as be exacerbated by the experience. Housing is key to addressing the health needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Domestic Violence: Many survivors of domestic violence become homeless when leaving an abusive relationship.

Racial Inequality: Most minority groups in the United States experience homelessness at higher rates than Whites, and therefore make up a disproportionate share of the homeless population.

Link: What Causes Homelessness? - National Alliance to End Homelessness

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Value: Service

Ethical Principle: Social workers' primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.

Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest. Social workers draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems.

Value: Social Justice

Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.

Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people.

Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person

Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.

Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients' socially responsible self-determination. Social workers seek to enhance clients' capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs. Social workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society. They seek to resolve conflicts between clients' interests and the broader society's interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the values, ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession.

Value: Importance of Human Relationships

Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.

Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities.

Link: Code of Ethics (socialworkers.org)

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- Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

- Article 25 number 1
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

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- United Nations reporter Leilani Farha on the right to adequate housing, She warns of widespread homelessness over the United States. Explains how homelessness is the failure

to implement the right to adequate housing by all the levels of government.

- Homelessness is a failure of governments to keep human rights obligations they have to all humans.

Link to video below:

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FEDERAL APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN MICHIGAN’S ANTI-BEGGING STATUTE AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

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FEDERAL APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN MICHIGAN’S ANTI-BEGGING STATUTE AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

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In a victory for free speech, the federal court of appeals ruled unanimously today that Michigan’s state law criminalizing peaceful panhandling in all public places is unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan first filed the lawsuit in September 2011 against the state and the City of Grand Rapids. The City of Grand Rapids had enforced the law 399 times between January 1, 2008 and May 24, 2011.

“This decision reaffirms the principle that our Constitution applies equally to everyone, whether poor or rich,” said Miriam Aukerman, ACLU of Michigan staff attorney. “Jail time is a harsh price to pay for holding up a sign or simply asking for spare change.”

The ACLU of Michigan argued that the state’s anti-begging law is unconstitutional because peaceful panhandling – like requests for charity by nonprofits, sport teams, or the Salvation Army -- is protected speech under the First Amendment. The appeals court agreed with the ACLU affirming the lower court’s decision, stating:

“Begging, or the soliciting of alms, is a form of solicitation that the First Amendment protects.”

Link:
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Michigan’s Anti-Begging Statute as Unconstitutional | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org)

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Ending Homelessness in Michigan' report illustrates the state of homelessness in Michigan

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Ending Homelessness in Michigan' report illustrates the state of homelessness in Michigan

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In 2019, 61,832 individuals experienced homelessness across Michigan, according to the Ending Homelessness in Michigan Annual Report, which was officially released on January 19.

African American's account for 52% of the homeless population in Michigan despite only making up 14% of the state’s population – which is 12% higher than the national average. Families with children account for nearly 50% of those who experience homelessness, and 3,847 youth ages 18 – 24 experienced some form of homelessness in 2019.

The number of homeless persons considered chronically homeless in 2019 was 6,625, and nearly 57% of those were Black.

More than 40% of the homeless population has a long term mental or physical health condition.

Formerly incarcerated individuals are 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population.

The average monthly income for a person experiencing homelessness is $662.

The related content contained in the State of Michigan's website details many other aspects of efforts made to helps aid in housing.

Link Below:

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Ending Homelessness in Michigan' report illustrates the state of homelessness in Michigan

Media Contact:

Katie Bach, BachK@michigan.gov
Tracey Houston, HoustonT1@michigan.gov

January 21, 2021

LANSING, Mich. - In 2019, 61,832 individuals experienced homelessness across Michigan, according to the Ending Homelessness in Michigan Annual Report, which was officially released on January 19. The report is created through a combined effort from numerous government department and agencies to assess the state of homelessness throughout Michigan.

While the overall number of homeless individuals dropped year-over-year from 65,104 in 2018, the 2019 report illustrates deep disparities in how homelessness impacts subpopulations and challenges stereotypes. For instance, Blacks account for 52% of the homeless population in Michigan despite only making up 14% of the state's population - which is 12% higher than the national average. Families with children account for nearly 50% of those who experience homelessness, and 3,847 youth ages 18 - 24 experienced some form of homelessness in 2019.

"What we're seeing is homelessness takes many shapes and forms, and while we've made positive strides overall and within some subpopulations, like veterans, youths, and families with children, there's still a lot of work to be done to provide safe, affordable housing for all Michiganders," said Eric Hufnagel, executive director for Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness.

Other key findings from the report include:

The number of homeless persons considered chronically homeless in 2019 was 6,625, and nearly 57% of those were Black.

More than 40% of the homeless population has a long term mental or physical health condition.

Formerly incarcerated individuals are 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population.

The average monthly income for a person experiencing homelessness is $662.

"The findings from this report illustrate an incredibly complex issue that will require creative thinking at multiple levels of our state and local governments to solve," said Kelly Rose, chief housing solutions officer and chair of the Michigan Interagency Council on Homelessness. "It's not enough to simply be committed to ending homelessness because there is no one-size-fits-all solution - which is why the findings in this report are so critical. They will help us understand the factors contributing to homelessness in different subpopulations and create solutions to address these issues head-on."

To download a full copy of the 2019 Ending Homelessness in Michigan Annual report, click here.

About Campaign to End Homelessness

In Michigan we believe that ending and preventing homelessness is achievable. Homeless episodes should be rare, brief and one-time in all Michigan communities. Michigan communities and state leadership are committed to deploying innovative solutions to ensure that any Michigan resident who may have to sleep on the streets or stay in a temporary emergency shelter does so only once and for the shortest time possible.

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Ending Homelessness in Michigan' report illustrates the state of homelessness in Michigan

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Media Contact: Katie Bach, BachK@michigan.gov Tracey Houston, HoustonT1@michigan.gov January 21, 2021 LANSING, Mich. - In 2019, 61,832 individuals experienced homelessness across Michigan, according to the Ending Homelessness in Michigan Annual Report, which was officially released on January 19. The report is created through a combined effort from numerous government department and agencies to assess the state of homelessness throughout Michigan.

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International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

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International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

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- Article 11 number 1
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.

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The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq., prohibits discrimination by direct providers of housing, such as landlords and real estate companies as well as other entities, such as municipalities, banks or other lending institutions and homeowners insurance companies whose discriminatory practices make housing unavailable to persons because of:

race or color

religion

sex

national origin

familial status, or

disability.

Link: The Fair Housing Act (justice.gov)

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United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

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United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

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At the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, they coordinate and catalyze the federal response to homelessness, working in close partnership with senior leaders across our 19 federal member agencies.

By organizing and supporting leaders such as Governors, Mayors, Continuum of Care leaders, and other local officials, USICH drive's action to achieve the goals of the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness—and ensure that homelessness in America is ended once and for all.

Legislative Authority

USICH was originally authorized by Congress through Title II of the landmark Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 (PL 100-77) to serve as an “independent establishment” within the executive branch. They were charged with coordinating the federal response to homelessness and creating a national partnership at every level of government and with the private sector to reduce and end homelessness in the nation while maximizing the effectiveness of the federal government in contributing to the end of homelessness.

Goals of USICH:
-Ending Veteran Homelessness
-Ending Youth Homelessness
-Ending Family Homelessness
-Ending Chronic Homelessness

Link: United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)

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HomeAid is a leading national nonprofit provider of housing and resources for people experiencing homelessness, operating through a network of 19 chapters in 13 states.

Their Mission:

Is building new lives for America’s homeless through housing and community outreach.

Through the development of more than 550 housing projects, HomeAid has housed more than 330,000 people who would have otherwise remained homeless.

HomeAid identifies long-term, reputable nonprofits who are in need of additional capacity to house and provide resources and services to people experiencing homelessness. HomeAid pairs these nonprofits with building partners, who donate their time, materials and labor to rehabilitate and build new spaces for those they serve.  Their model allows them to serve a variety of populations and needs, including:

Youth who have aged out of foster care

Victims of domestic violence and spousal desertion

Children who have become homeless due to a family crisis

Adults living with HIV/AIDS

Individuals and families suffering from drug and alcohol abuse

Developmentally disabled individuals

Families and individuals who are homeless as a result of job loss or illness

Veterans

People who are unable to secure decent, safe housing at an affordable rate

Pregnant teenagers

Every HomeAid project includes support services that help residents move toward self-sufficiency, such as education, job skills training, financial counseling, and physical and emotional support.

Link: HomeAid's Mission - HomeAid America

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CDC: Homelessness as a Public Health Law Issue: Selected Resources

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CDC: Homelessness as a Public Health Law Issue: Selected Resources

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On any given night, hundreds of thousands of people are homeless in the United States. These people might be chronically homeless, have temporarily lost their shelter, be fleeing domestic violence, or facing any number of other issues. Homelessness is closely connected to declines in physical and mental health; homeless persons experience high rates of health problems such as HIV infection, alcohol and drug abuse, mental illness, tuberculosis, and other conditions.³ Health problems among homeless persons result from various factors, such as barriers to care, lack of access to adequate food and protection, and limited resources and social services.⁴ As each of these factors have legal underpinnings, legal and policy interventions have often been used to attempt to address homelessness, although not always from a public health perspective.

The CDC website offers resources that describe homelessness as a public health concern, discuss the criminalization of homelessness in some jurisdictions, and give examples of legal and policy approaches to addressing homelessness.

Resources Discussed:
Homelessness and Public Health
Criminalization of Homelessness
Law and Policy Approaches

Link: CDC - Homelessness as a Public Health Law Issue - Publications by Topic - Public Health Law

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Image retrieved from Evicted website

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Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
by: Matthew Desmond
-Non-fiction
- Within poor areas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- This book follows 8 families and their struggles with keeping stable housing, having to pay rent and landlords. Some families face living in shelters and you learn about the relationships they make along their way. Individuals within the book range in all ages.

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The official website of Matthew Desmond, author of EVICTED: POVERTY AND PROFIT IN THE AMERICAN CITY. Matthew is also the John L. Loeb Associate Professor ...

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- Article 27 number 1
States Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.

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A Look into the Homeless Population in L.A., California's "Tent City:" Video

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A Look into the Homeless Population in L.A., California's "Tent City:" Video

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Due to the video's large size, I have posted the link below.

In this video, it details one mans journey through downtown Los Angeles to get a glimpse of the exploding homeless population. Homelessness in California has grown into literal "tent cities" everywhere in the city. This video was filmed, Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

Link to Video: Here's a look at how bad the homeless problem in Los Angeles has become - YouTube

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The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

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The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

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The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness is dedicated to creating a sustainable statewide voice and the infrastructure and systemic change needed to empower communities to end homelessness.

The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) is a nonprofit membership organization formed in 1990 as an association of emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, nonprofit housing and service programs, government programs, and concerned citizens from across the state.

MCAH empowers over 600 Michigan homeless service agencies through public awareness activities, advocacy at the state and federal level, and support services that bring in national expertise and best practices. The understanding of homelessness is driven by extensive and varied experience in the field and on-going primary and secondary research and analysis.

Link: Home - MCAH (mihomeless.org)

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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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- Article 28 number 1
States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability.

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What they do:
CLOSE THE FRONT DOOR TO HOMELESSNESS

Prevention services

Link consumers to permanent housing programs

Promote access to resources

OPEN THE BACK DOOR FROM HOMELESSNESS

Ensure availability of emergency housing

Increase permanent supportive housing

Provide intensive case-management services

BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE

Gather accurate data

Provide ongoing review of current housing market

Promote affordable home-ownership opportunities

INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY

Educate community about homelessness

Organize events including Ottawa Connect and Housing Matters

Encourage participation among elected officials

Link: https://www.ottawaunitedway.org/about-lha