A local charity is trying to put a dent in the housing crisis — one tiny home at a time.
They’re called IMBY, which is short for “In My Backyard,” and they’re building laneway homes in Hamilton to help people who are on the verge of becoming homeless.
Their very first project is almost complete and move-in ready.
A 430-square-foot home situated in Hamilton’s north end. The one-bedroom detached tiny house was built behind an existing home on John Street North.
It has one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, a living room, and a laundry room, and while it isn’t exactly large or extravagant, for most, it’s enough.
At a cool $150,000 to build, some say it might help solve the housing crisis.
“It’s just an amazing feeling seeing something that was just an idea for it to become a house that someone gets to move into,” said Alicia Wilson, IMBY’s co-founder. She says everything was done by the books, and the city permitted the entire thing.
“We just recognize right now that with the cost of living, there are a lot of people that are vulnerable to be coming, houseless, so our goal with IMBY is to be a preventative organization and prevent people from becoming homeless,” said Siobhan Koch, IMBY’s other co-founder.
While the charity started four years ago, this home is their first project.
All the materials are purchased, but the construction is done on time donated by professionals and volunteers.
The group aims to build more tiny houses across the city and hopes to be able to rent them for no more than 30 per cent of a person’s income. Their first one already has a tenant lined up to move in, and their rent for the 430-square-foot tiny home will only be $1,000 a month.
To learn more about the charity, visit their website.