Over the summer, Vice Chair of the King County Democrats Omaha Sternberg offered a shocking proposal: send Seattle’s homeless population to an island. The Real Change Editorial Committee questioned this idea, particularly the notion that homeless people in our community would not be welcome in their own community. They suggested hearing from people who live in tiny house villages to talk about their experiences in their community. Real Change reached out to residents of the 14-house village at 22nd Avenue and Union Street in the Central District to share their stories and experiences.
— Aaron Burkhalter, Real Change Editor
Residents of the Nickelsville Tiny House Village, in their own words
The Kane-Campbell Family
For me being a father and husband supporting our young family has the added dimension of submitting to accepting assistance in the form of our “Tiny House.” It was difficult at first, but we were quickly able to see it as the stepping stone it is, and one that keeps us together — a much needed factor in those first couple of years of our young daughter’s life.
We feel much gratitude toward our community for the shows of support in so many forms, be it donations big and small, offers of help and generally making us feel not like lepers. Many of us come into this situation feeling nothing near welcome, which adds to our collective complex, so this community around us has really shown us that, if given a chance, these little microcosms of transitional housing for folks between places can serve a greater good than any naysayer can possibly argue against.
When my family looks back upon this brief period in our life, it is sure to be a positive period in our life, it is sure to be a positive — if still humbling — note, and if any city were to pioneer such positivity, Seattle and its progressive, humanitarian citizens are true to form the most likely place, and now the most likely time.
From our little success story in the making, I hope I’ve conveyed our gratitude and immense respect for this program and neighborhood.
Sheila Jackson
The Nickelsville Tiny House Village has been so much to so many people but this is what it has done for my family. This is my children’s first time being homeless, I’ve met too many families who felt like they were in an endless cycle. They find it hard to reconnect with society fully all because they have no place to call home. These tiny houses present an opportunity to keep communities together starting with the individual. And that’s what it’s done for my family, not just by giving us a safe place to stay but also providing the opportunity to get involved in this small community and the larger neighborhood of regular-sized houses around us.
My favorite thing about Nickelsville Tiny House Village is that it’s small and self-maintained. It has created a sense of pride, or something to take pride in, alleviating the isolation you feel from being homeless. There are so many places where people will go years without knowing their neighbor’s name. Here at Nickelsville Tiny House Village, people are connecting and helping each other. These small boxes house amazing people with their simple and unique designs, and the colors don’t stand out in this little neighborhood until someone walks by. Many of the neighbors have gotten to know us from the kids being in the neighborhood, and we often find gifts for each kid in the donation hut. This is because the small, tiny village is unique and contributes to the community.
Our family feels like part of society again because of our tiny home. Nickelsville’s tiny houses have kept my family together and after losing a child, we can finally start to heal. We don’t have to worry about where we will stay at night or how we will bathe. There is the occasional search for food or soap but we are a community, so we try to be there for each other. In my opinion, living in this small self-maintained village encourages initiative to be involved in the neighborhood, for example in the form of our Litter Busters (community garbage pick-up).
My children still worry about their friends back in the tent city. They worry about them because they feel their shelter needs have been handled thanks to this little home; they feel a part of society again. Now their focus is on school and what the pastor might say at church on Sunday, or what little gifts or donations the congregation may have provided for them. My husband can get a good night’s sleep for work and not constantly worry about his family. He can now focus on work and finding permanent housing. Hopefully one day soon we will move on to our own neighborhood and give another needy family the opportunity to be part of this tiny house community and the larger community around us.
Tony D.
My story starts a couple of years back when I lost my apartment due to not being able to afford the rent because I was on unemployment after losing my job. As bills got worse and worse, they soon became out of control, which led to me losing my apartment. I became homeless as of that moment. I spent the next two years going from shelter to shelter and occasionally a friend’s couch. I was fortunate to receive an internship to the YMCA that in time developed into a job as paid YMCA staff, a job I still have to this very day. Even with employment, finding stable affordable housing was a huge problem. I applied to several housing services but nothing came through and it was a frustrating experience. Supporting myself with my own apartment was out of the question due to the ridiculously high rent in Seattle. While staying in a shelter located in Capitol Hill, I stumbled upon Tiny House Village and applied.
A couple of months later, I received a call about an opening. Living at Tiny House Village is way more affordable for me, and also provides the opportunity to save toward a future place. Staying in a tiny house versus a traditional shelter gives more freedom and privacy. The anxieties of wondering where you can take a shower today or will you be able to get into a shelter tonight eat away at you. Homeless people aren’t something to be afraid of or hidden from view as though they are lepers. Having a Tiny House Village in a community not only helps create hope and stability for its residents but it is an efficient use of the space and a colorful addition to a neighborhood.