Commentary: Tiny homes help house the unhoused — but we must reduce the risks of homelessness.
Ed.: The essays, analyses and opinions presented as Community Voices express the perspectives of their authors on topics of interest and importance to the community, and are not intended to reflect perspectives on behalf of the Salish Current.
North Haven had an open house in Bellingham on last week after completing 43 of the planned 47 tiny homes. The homes were completed by the sweat equity of the residents and volunteers and with contributions from many local companies.
The open house was attended by about 200 people, including many city and county council members. Doug Gustafson, Homes Now! chairman, and Tina Hayes, co-chair, spoke, and Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund gave a short welcoming speech. City council member Michael Lilliquist was recognized for the many hours of volunteer effort he had contributed to building the tiny homes. Lilliquist asked everyone to recognize Dennis Rensink, a volunteer who has been there every day for five months since the construction started on March 25.
The most poignant speeches were by several of the residents who spoke about how important living in the village was to them. Desiree, who spoke informally to this correspondent, talked about her two-year experience living on the street and how dangerous it was for a woman to be homeless. She was very grateful to be housed in the village and feeling safe. Only 30 of the 47 units are currently occupied but there is tremendous competition for the remaining 17 units. Over 2,100 are on the waiting list, making the task of selecting future residents challenging. One man sitting on the sideline said he had been on the waiting list for two years.
Gustafson and Hayes have the difficult task of screening those who want to become residents. Current substance abuse does not necessarily rule out an applicant but that individual needs to be in treatment and showing signs of progress. Illegal drugs and alcohol are not allowed on-site, but. tobacco products and cannabis are permitted in designated areas.
Residents are selected on their ability and willingness to help the village function, since there is no paid staff. Residents do everything from assigning the tasks, which rotate, to cleaning the SaniCans. Residents who do not contribute to their share of responsibilities or who drink or do drugs in the village can be, and sometimes are, evicted if they show no progress toward recovery.
North Haven has a very positive esprit de corps, largely because of the shared commitment to the well-being of the village. The careful screening of applicants is the other ingredient to the success of this model. The Birchwood community has welcomed the tiny home village.
The long waiting list, which far exceeds the annual one-day count of the homeless, highlights the tremendous need to replicate this model to house more of those who are homeless. Both the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County are actively searching for another site.
Homelessness is a complicated challenge. There are two issues that need to be addressed: housing the homeless and reducing the risk of homelessness.
There need to be multiple options for those who are homeless. In addition to tiny home villages, Housing First programs and supported housing, there needs to be a designated, supported parking area for those living in their vehicles and designated supported areas for those living in tents or make-shift shelters. Even then there will be some homeless who will avoid congregate living and prefer to find an isolated area to camp.
Although fewer than half of the homeless population abuse drugs and alcohol, many of those who do have turned to those substances in the face of crushing hopelessness. The important takeaway is that homeless people are all individuals, each with their unique history and cannot be generalized.
Reducing the risk of homelessness is an even more difficult problem. At the surface the problem is that we live in a beautiful area with a thriving community and economy. Bellingham and its sister cities in the county attract more people than we have room for, driving up home prices and rents. Those at the bottom rung of the economy get squeezed out. Low wage jobs are not enough to keep up with the rising rents. Too many pay at least 50% of their income for housing.
Although many homeless are younger people in low-paying service jobs, many are people with families who cannot make ends meet. At least some of the homeless have been ground down by abuse and poverty in childhood, school drop outs and others without marketable skills. Ironically, there is a shortage of skilled labor. Education, job training and wages are part of the homelessness equation.
There is a pressing need to address those issues to reduce the risk of homelessness.
— John Dunne
Also read in Salish Current:
• “The challenge of merging two tiny-home villages,” Aug. 29, 2024
• “Can we prevent homelessness?” March 31, 2023
• “Why choose to remain unhoused?” Dec. 22, 2022
• “Review: Geography, zoning, economy play into the ‘why’ of homelessness,” Oct. 5, 2022
• “Gardenview Village tiny homes open avenues of hope for those in homelessness, ”Nov. 5, 2021
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