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Tiny Homes Could Change Lives With Low Incomes
Homeownership for those with incomes less than $10,000 could soon be a reality.
Cedric Jackson
07.23.18

Owing or renting a home is expensive, no matter how you look at it. Finding a loan can be difficult, coming up with enough money for a down payment or deposit can be hard, and simply making a rent or mortgage payment. In Detroit, there are a lot of families that are struggling to find a place to live. Cass Community Services is working to change all that with tiny homes.

Austin Curbed
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Austin Curbed

The organization feels that tiny homes are an affordable housing option.

It plans to build these homes and make them available for low-income families. The group recently created a fundraising campaign on Crowdrise to explain the plan. The page says:

“Cass Community Social Services has purchased two blocks north of its campus at Woodrow Wilson and Elmhurst (next to the Lodge Freeway) to make room for a new community of Tiny Homes. The Homes will address three separate issues:

“1) They will provide safe, clean and affordable housing for low-income individuals who will be able to become homeowners without having to qualify for a mortgage or pay interest. Owners will have an asset which they will be able to use to acquire a loan, to sell for something else, to leave to their families at the time of their deaths. The Tiny Homes can permanently break the cycle of poverty.

“2) The Tiny Homes development will bring density and diversity to a neighborhood that has hundreds of vacant lots and abandoned houses. Each Tiny House will be a permanent structure and every one of them will be distinctive inside and on the exterior – including porches and decks, gardens and yards.

“3) The environmentally-friendly Tiny Homes will be relatively inexpensive to construct and to maintain. EnergyStar appliances, thick R rated insulation, low-flow faucets and fixtures are just some of the energy-efficient features which will reduce the owners’ carbon footprint.”

Austin Curbed
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Austin Curbed

This is just the beginning, though.

The group is hoping to get more donations and get others involved to help build these tiny houses all over the Detroit area. Members want to help as many families as possible with their new project.

Austin Curbed
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Austin Curbed

They have already built seven homes and are planning to build 18 more.

In addition to the homes, the people living in them will have access to financial planning classes, nutrition classes, and mental health counseling to help them overcome their situation, so they can improve their lives.

Austin Curbed
Source:
Austin Curbed

The organization has also built 10 slightly larger homes that are designed for families.

These families can live together comfortable in homes that they can afford. The program is working, and many people have contacted the group from all over the world wanting to know how they can start similar projects in their own communities.

Austin Curbed
Source:
Austin Curbed

A spokesperson for the organization explained how well things are going.

She said:

“Finally, residents in the Tiny Homes will be able to access most of the other services available at CCSS – educational, recreational, nutritional, medical, mental health programs and as well as social activities. Everything will be within a few blocks (a short distance for a pedestrian or a cyclist). This will be a monumental improvement for people who don’t have transportation.”

Austin Curbed
Source:
Austin Curbed

This is just the beginning for this housing project and organization, and members are planning to expand the project more and more.

They are helping families and making a difference in their community, one tiny house at a time.

The organization also works on other projects to restore other buildings in the community. Members take old schools and turn them into retirement homes and make other significant changes to some of the deserted and abandoned buildings to make them look better and serve the community. They really are working to make Detroit a better place, and their efforts are becoming increasingly obvious. Everyone is excited to see how this project will grow and how many people will have a better life because of it.

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This NonProfit Builds Tiny Homes For Low-Income Workers

These tiny houses let people with incomes as low as $10K become homeowners

Posted by NowThis Future on Saturday, February 24, 2018

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