South Florida Cities Plan ‘Tiny Homes’ for the Homeless
The Housing First Approach
Last year, Florida approved a law to prohibit people from sleeping on streets, sidewalks, and parks. And starting on January 1st, the public can sue local governments if they don’t think enough is being done to get the unsheltered off the streets. As a result, local cities across South Florida have been scrambling to find solutions to give people a home.
And some municipalities are considering the option of tiny homes.
“The best way to take care of them is to not throw more money at them, the best way to take care of them is housing first,” said Maria Sachs, a County Commissioner in Palm Beach.
Palm Beach’s Plan
She is behind a potential solution to get more than 1,500 people off the street. And her big idea starts with tiny homes. The houses are built off-site, transported in 24 to 48 hours, and as fast as possible, with electrical and other services hooked up, and support services will be provided depending on the individual’s issues.
The idea originated from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, which claims to prioritize providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life.
“What it resolves is the greatest fear of a homeless person, the fear of being attacked or accosted,” said Sachs. “The most important thing is the key to the front door, it gives them a sense of security.”
Palm Beach’s Tiny Home Requirements
Commissioner Sachs says they have already talked with different manufacturers, but want to make sure they meet Miami’s building code, which is one of the strictest. They are even considering tiny homes that could be purchased right off Amazon. Ideally, Commissioner Sachs would like to see no more than 10 cottages in an area, preferably one that’s industrial or commercially zoned.
“Different areas of the county have distressed areas that can be purchased from private entities, so the most important thing is that no one will be in a big shanti town or big community of 100 cottages. But everyone will have the dignity of a roof over their head, a key to the door and a private bathroom,” she explained.
Broward and Miami-Dade
Broward County
In Broward County, Mayor Nan Rich has been championing for tiny homes, and past discussions have been to create a community of 100 of them in Dania Beach or build fiberglass shelters. But so far, none of those ideas have come to pass.
Miami-Dade
In Miami-Dade, the Homeless Trust is hoping to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later. “These are two-unit, whole bath, living room, kitchen. They are about 465 square feet,” said Ron Book, Chairman of the Board of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, which has been looking for the perfect tiny home product for three years.
Book hopes that once they meet Florida Building Code Standards and Miami’s Building Code, by mid-February, they can get the products approvals and begin construction potentially in early summer.
Conclusion
The tiny home solution is gaining traction in South Florida, with Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties taking the lead. While it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s a step in the right direction to address the issue of homelessness in the region.
FAQs
* What is the Housing First approach?
+ It prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life.
* What is the goal of the tiny home solution in Palm Beach?
+ To get more than 1,500 people off the street.
* What is the process for building tiny homes in Palm Beach?
+ Houses are built off-site, transported in 24 to 48 hours, and as fast as possible, with electrical and other services hooked up, and support services will be provided depending on the individual’s issues.
* What is the goal of the tiny home solution in Miami-Dade?
+ To start with 75 homes, later buying 75 more, to house roughly 300 people.
