Tackling Homelessness with Tiny Houses: An Inventory of Tiny House Villages in the United States

Abstract

Across the United States, tiny house villages are increasingly appearing as a method of addressing homelessness. There has been no formal or sustained effort to document tiny house villages for the homeless, however. This research involves the development of a database on the location and characteristics of tiny house villages for the homeless in the United States. The database not only includes locational information but involves an inventory of several physical and social characteristics at each site. Furthermore, an open-access browser-based Web-mapping app has been developed that will allow users to not only visualize the geographic location and data associated with these villages but input data on new tiny house villages for the homeless as they are opened. The database has resulted in a wealth of information, including the average size and cost of tiny houses in villages for the homeless, as well as the percentages of villages that offer amenities such as transportation access and mental health services. This article provides an overview of the data in the national tiny house inventory and potential venues of research that could aid community planners and advocates of tiny house villages for the homelessness in best integrating these developments.