Portland has begun a task force meeting to discuss whether or not tiny homes can be used to house the currently homeless, according to Director of Strategic Initiatives, Josh Alpert.
Alpert is hopeful that the city can have homes available as soon as February of 2015. The city of Portland, Oregon, estimates that 2,000 of its residents currently find shelter under bridges, in empty lots with makeshift coverings, and on streets. It is now looking beyond the dorm-style shelters that many cities have used to try and meet this challenge.
This solution was presented to the mayor’s office by Michael Withey, a housing advocate, who based the designs on those created by TechDwell, an architectural firm. Alpert hopes that up to 10 structures can be erected in four different lots owned by the city. Each structure would house two people and, by spreading the micro communities into different neighborhoods, the hope is that no single area would be disproportionately burdened.
The houses will be selected through a process that will be managed by the city. Many architectural firms use printing companies to generate professional materials when bidding on a large project like this.
Both the ability to meet county and city building codes, as well as final cost, will be considered. Alpert hopes that the homes will be more attractive than the dorm style structures, as they will offer more privacy and independence.
