San Jose opens first tiny home community for formerly homeless residents

[Bayard]

Walking into San Jose’s first tiny home community for homeless residents is like stepping foot inside a miniature gated neighborhood.

After making your way past the 10-foot gate surrounding the property, 40 tiny homes — 80-square-feet rectangular structures with just enough room for a single bed, desk, shelf and air conditioning and heating system — are in neat rows with gravel paths, lined with potted plants, leading from one home to another.

The unconventional community built on a Valley Transportation Authority site leased by the city on Mabury Road near Coyote Creek offers a mix of stability and compassion for those trying to stay afloat in spite of the region’s chronic shortage of affordable housing.

And after more than three years in the making and months of delays, state and local leaders from Mayor Sam Liccardo to Assemblyman Ash Kalra to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday gathered at the site — formally called a bridge housing community — to tout it as an innovative approach to helping solve the state’s growing homeless crisis. In San Jose alone, more than 6,000 residents sleep in cars, shelters or on the streets every night.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/27/san-jose-opens-first-tiny-home-community-for-formerly-homeless-residents/

[lame54]

1. I've been to one in Sacramento...

Very impressive

[silverweb]

2. Where was that located?

I've been reading about the plan for the first tiny home village for youth and Steinberg wants 1000 of the homes, but I didn't think anything had actually been built yet. I'd love to see it!

[leftstreet]

3. Trailer Parks bad, gated Tiny Home Communities good

[SharonClark]

4. 8 x 10 is incredibly small.

No sink, toilet, fridge, or cooktop?
Is there a communal shower room?
Why is a tiny house better than a dorm-like structure?

I visited a tiny house community outside Austin but it also had trailer homes. It was very interesting.

[Duppers]

5. This is such a great idea.

Folks can have the essential roof over their heads, privacy, along with feeling secure.