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Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
This should be interesting to watch! Very good idea, with lots of possible pitfalls. Barry
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Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
Sonoma County supervisors on Tuesday are expected to take another next step toward creating villages of tiny homes to house homeless people.
Officials have identified six county-owned properties for the villages, which could include trailer homes, 70-square-foot camping-style cabins or slightly larger, 220-square-foot homes.
Supervisors first floated the tiny-home concept in July. They are expected to vote Tuesday on whether pay up to $75,000 for an analysis of sites for a pilot program, which could lead to the construction or purchase of dozens of structures. They could be located permanently or temporarily on government-owned lots scattered throughout Santa Rosa.
Potential sites include the parking lot of the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, horse stalls at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, vacant lots at the county administration campus near Administration Drive and Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa and other properties off Russell and Kawana avenues.
Each site could house eight to 10 buildings, according to county staff.
The approach is part of a series of initiatives the Board of Supervisors has approved over the past year to address homelessness in Sonoma County.
County officials this year said 2,200 dedicated housing units are needed to properly shelter the roughly 3,000 people who sleep on the streets.
The tiny homes idea has been raised as an affordable way to address the chronic shortage of shelter for homeless people in the county — a shortfall compounded by the area’s torrid housing market, including skyrocketing rents. If successful, the idea could be replicated on other private and public properties, according to county staff.
If the county moves ahead, officials intend to enlist the help of developers and nonprofit agencies to build the structures.
A public hearing on the matter is set for Tuesday morning during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting.
The county could request proposals for the concept as early as December.
You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or [email protected].
Re: Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
I'm all for tiny homes. but he difference in cost of building a 500 square foot home and a1500 square foot home is minimal all things considered. Bedrooms are cheap. You can put more people in a 1500 square foot home. The cost is in the land, sewer, permits, sidewalks etc. Apartments, four plexus and the like are a far more economical way to house folks. Tiny homes are great if you already have land to place them on or add one to an existing lot that has a home on it. Or a couple of them on a ranch. As stand alone units they aren't economical.
There was a time in this country when you could build a shanty down by the river or railroad tracks if you were down on your luck. Allowing shanty towns where folks could park an RV or build a funky shelter would be far more civilized then the present state of affairs where the homeless, addicted and mentally ill either sleep on concrete or are forced into shelters where they have no feeling of domain or privacy. There are RVs everywhere for free or cheap that could be put into service.
Re: Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
You may have a good point, but housing homeless strangers (with PTSD) together in a house is a lot more complex than it would appear on the surface. Even in conscious co-housing communities, there are people who don't follow the guidelines. Low income housing has been provided by apartment type buildings, which allow privacy, and it may be best to continue this way.
According to the post, land that's being considered is available: "Potential sites include the parking lot of the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, horse stalls at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, vacant lots at the county administration campus near Administration Drive and Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa and other properties off Russell and Kawana avenues."
Tiny home "villages" is another concept that's being developed in other states. This would mean having a central kitchen, bathrooms, and a rec room with tiny houses in a circular cluster as the sleeping quarters. Storage could also be available at an extra cost for those who need it.
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:
...Allowing shanty towns where folks could park an RV or build a funky shelter would be far more civilized then the present state of affairs where the homeless, addicted and mentally ill either sleep on concrete or are forced into shelters where they have no feeling of domain or privacy...
Re: Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
Don't get me wrong I'm for anything thing, anywhere that will work. You make a good point about about housing folks together with serous mental problems. For many it wouldn't work for others it could be a road back. If the county has enough land to build tiny homes on by all means do it. I don't like doing nothing or doing not enough because of the bad optics a funky RV community would have. People who are out on the street care very little about how a place looks. There is a cruelty in our laws that won't let people squat on vacant surplus public lands. Maybe declare an emergency and bring in FEMA type trailers to start with. Doing nothing is the worst option.
Re: Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
There's a huge problem with "squatting" on public lands. It entails garbage and unsanitary conditions with a high probability of fires. I agree that it's an emergency that needs attention and solutions.
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:
... There is a cruelty in our laws that won't let people squat on vacant surplus public lands. Maybe declare an emergency and bring in FEMA type trailers...
Re: Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
Whoa...hold the show here just a bit. Firstly, implying that right off the bat, homeless are somehow a bunch of "folks with mental problems" is a mischaracterization of what being homeless means...so i take issue with this.
Secondly, there are a whole host of reasons why people are homeless and that's for another thread. and yes, some have mental issues...for sure. Not ALL...some.
There is a pilot program right now as we write here and it's called Camp Michaela. Visit it sometime...at the old Water Agency on College at Stony Point. The reason why the County is even "thinking" of this is because of the wonderful people at Camp Michaela. In order to even be a part of this camp, there are guidelines, and as time goes on, these folks WILL be governing themselves entirely...yeah.
The County didn't even want to step up and really deal with our homeless and kept saying they would do something, but it never materialized. So, these folks decided to camp on County property. Nothing like camping on County property to get the attention of our elected officials. Now, they have been able to see first hand that these Camps Can and Do Work. Will there be problems, and some stumbles along the way? Yes, most certainly...but unless people are willing to THINK and find ways to help our homeless in creative ways, they will be ignored and as we take note that now probably 3000 people in this county sleep on the streets, down by the river, etc. it will not go away. We must step up and push (once again, and as Always) our elected officials to find the Will to build these houses, make space for these camps and help people live with dignity. Being homeless is Not a crime!
peace
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:
..You make a good point about about housing folks together with serious mental problems. For many it wouldn't work for others it could be a road back. ....
Re: Sonoma County supervisors to consider housing homeless in tiny homes
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:
Whoa...hold the show here just a bit. Firstly, implying that right off the bat, homeless are somehow a bunch of "folks with mental problems" is a mischaracterization of what being homeless means...so i take issue with this....
Sorry you got from my post that I was implying all homeless have mental health problems. I did not say that. Nor do I believe that. I was replying to the previous poster that made the point that building units with several bedrooms might not work in ALL cases for SOME people who were struggling with certain serious mental health issues. My point was it is far more affordable and efficient to develop and build one four bedroom home than four 1 bedroom homes. Apartments are even more efficient Trailer or RV sites are easier and more affordable still.
