Hey so how many people here know what a tiny
so how many people here know what a tiny
so how many people here know what a tiny house is yeah all right how many of you
house is yeah all right how many of you
house is yeah all right how many of you feel like you could live in one maybe
feel like you could live in one maybe
feel like you could live in one maybe not
not
not let me reach the question how many
let me reach the question how many
let me reach the question how many people work in jobs that you don’t feel
people work in jobs that you don’t feel
people work in jobs that you don’t feel completely inspired by or maybe I’ve had
completely inspired by or maybe I’ve had
completely inspired by or maybe I’ve had a dream that always felt just a bit out
a dream that always felt just a bit out
a dream that always felt just a bit out of reach or maybe you just don’t feel
of reach or maybe you just don’t feel
of reach or maybe you just don’t feel like you have enough time for yourself
like you have enough time for yourself
like you have enough time for yourself or your family because for those of us
or your family because for those of us
or your family because for those of us that live in tiny houses the definition
that live in tiny houses the definition
that live in tiny houses the definition may be a home that’s under 400 square
may be a home that’s under 400 square
may be a home that’s under 400 square feet but how we see it is a tool to live
feet but how we see it is a tool to live
feet but how we see it is a tool to live a life that we choose it’s a tool that
a life that we choose it’s a tool that
a life that we choose it’s a tool that we use to avoid the financial traps that
we use to avoid the financial traps that
we use to avoid the financial traps that leave so many people treading water and
leave so many people treading water and
leave so many people treading water and once you put your need for space up
once you put your need for space up
once you put your need for space up against your need to achieve your dreams
against your need to achieve your dreams
against your need to achieve your dreams the actual relevance of a tiny house it
the actual relevance of a tiny house it
the actual relevance of a tiny house it becomes much more apparent see my dream
becomes much more apparent see my dream
becomes much more apparent see my dream was never to be on television my dream
was never to be on television my dream
was never to be on television my dream was to be a professional skier and when
was to be a professional skier and when
was to be a professional skier and when I was in my early 20s I had this moment
I was in my early 20s I had this moment
I was in my early 20s I had this moment where I felt that dream escaping me and
where I felt that dream escaping me and
where I felt that dream escaping me and I knew that I need to make a big shift
I knew that I need to make a big shift
I knew that I need to make a big shift in my life if I was going to actually
in my life if I was going to actually
in my life if I was going to actually make it happen and so what I did was I
make it happen and so what I did was I
make it happen and so what I did was I actually bought a motor home and I fixed
actually bought a motor home and I fixed
actually bought a motor home and I fixed it up with everything I had and I took a
it up with everything I had and I took a
it up with everything I had and I took a job a minimum-wage job for states away
job a minimum-wage job for states away
job a minimum-wage job for states away in a place that I didn’t know anyone and
in a place that I didn’t know anyone and
in a place that I didn’t know anyone and went out on this kind of big journey to
went out on this kind of big journey to
went out on this kind of big journey to pursue the dream and the crazy thing was
pursue the dream and the crazy thing was
pursue the dream and the crazy thing was it happened and I actually spent my late
it happened and I actually spent my late
it happened and I actually spent my late 20s in my early 30s traveling the world
20s in my early 30s traveling the world
20s in my early 30s traveling the world getting paid to ski you know rubbing
getting paid to ski you know rubbing
getting paid to ski you know rubbing elbows with my heroes and that sense of
elbows with my heroes and that sense of
elbows with my heroes and that sense of satisfaction that gratification that
satisfaction that gratification that
satisfaction that gratification that came with it was so profound I know that
came with it was so profound I know that
came with it was so profound I know that it’s going to last with me for the rest
it’s going to last with me for the rest
it’s going to last with me for the rest of my life and I can tell you a hundred
of my life and I can tell you a hundred
of my life and I can tell you a hundred percent that it would have never
percent that it would have never
percent that it would have never happened if I didn’t have the ability to
happened if I didn’t have the ability to
happened if I didn’t have the ability to pare down on the financial demands of my
pare down on the financial demands of my
pare down on the financial demands of my life so that I could really focus on
life so that I could really focus on
life so that I could really focus on making this dream a reality so in 2011 I
making this dream a reality so in 2011 I
making this dream a reality so in 2011 I built my first tiny home and shortly
built my first tiny home and shortly
built my first tiny home and shortly after I’ve read a book by a hero of mine
after I’ve read a book by a hero of mine
after I’ve read a book by a hero of mine and a visionary person named Jay Shafer
and a visionary person named Jay Shafer
and a visionary person named Jay Shafer and in the book he talked about how the
and in the book he talked about how the
and in the book he talked about how the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa industry had actually gone through this
industry had actually gone through this
industry had actually gone through this process where they were confronted with
process where they were confronted with
process where they were confronted with the need to affect their efficiency of
the need to affect their efficiency of
the need to affect their efficiency of the vehicles and they did so in a short
the vehicles and they did so in a short
the vehicles and they did so in a short time and the craziest thing is that they
time and the craziest thing is that they
time and the craziest thing is that they didn’t actually jeopardize the power of
didn’t actually jeopardize the power of
didn’t actually jeopardize the power of the engines and it’s this really
the engines and it’s this really
the engines and it’s this really remarkable thing because now we have
remarkable thing because now we have
remarkable thing because now we have vehicles that actually travel so much
vehicles that actually travel so much
vehicles that actually travel so much further two to three times on the same
further two to three times on the same
further two to three times on the same gallon of gasoline and at the same time
gallon of gasoline and at the same time
gallon of gasoline and at the same time we’re going from zero to 60 in record
we’re going from zero to 60 in record
we’re going from zero to 60 in record time and this is this very big concept
time and this is this very big concept
time and this is this very big concept to me because what it really proves is
to me because what it really proves is
to me because what it really proves is that efficiency and power are not
that efficiency and power are not
that efficiency and power are not mutually exclusive and I find it really
mutually exclusive and I find it really
mutually exclusive and I find it really useful when I’m actually applying the
useful when I’m actually applying the
useful when I’m actually applying the same concept into my work as a tiny
same concept into my work as a tiny
same concept into my work as a tiny house designer so efficiency when you’re
house designer so efficiency when you’re
house designer so efficiency when you’re actually thinking about construction is
actually thinking about construction is
actually thinking about construction is all about energy use so that’s heating
all about energy use so that’s heating
all about energy use so that’s heating and cooling but it’s also cost it’s
and cooling but it’s also cost it’s
and cooling but it’s also cost it’s about good use of materials it’s about
about good use of materials it’s about
about good use of materials it’s about minimizing waste and the whole point or
minimizing waste and the whole point or
minimizing waste and the whole point or the concept involved with a tiny house
the concept involved with a tiny house
the concept involved with a tiny house is that by building very small but then
is that by building very small but then
is that by building very small but then actually making these spaces very
actually making these spaces very
actually making these spaces very high-functioning we can achieve
high-functioning we can achieve
high-functioning we can achieve extremely efficient homes right so
extremely efficient homes right so
extremely efficient homes right so efficiency is really it’s this kind of
efficiency is really it’s this kind of
efficiency is really it’s this kind of thing that I work and my specialty is
thing that I work and my specialty is
thing that I work and my specialty is actually these kind of transforming
actually these kind of transforming
actually these kind of transforming solutions to make the maximizing the use
solutions to make the maximizing the use
solutions to make the maximizing the use of a space however if I’m not careful
of a space however if I’m not careful
of a space however if I’m not careful these clever contraptions they can
these clever contraptions they can
these clever contraptions they can easily become cumbersome and when that
easily become cumbersome and when that
easily become cumbersome and when that happens the entire value of that design
happens the entire value of that design
happens the entire value of that design is lost so my goal is really is to
is lost so my goal is really is to
is lost so my goal is really is to design multi-purpose solutions that work
design multi-purpose solutions that work
design multi-purpose solutions that work as a fluid system and that’s when I
as a fluid system and that’s when I
as a fluid system and that’s when I believe the true efficiency is achieved
believe the true efficiency is achieved
believe the true efficiency is achieved now the power of a space really comes
now the power of a space really comes
now the power of a space really comes down to someone’s appreciation of it and
down to someone’s appreciation of it and
down to someone’s appreciation of it and whether it’s a big home or a small home
whether it’s a big home or a small home
whether it’s a big home or a small home that really comes down to the
that really comes down to the
that really comes down to the customization and making someone feel
customization and making someone feel
customization and making someone feel like that space is theirs and that can
like that space is theirs and that can
like that space is theirs and that can happen with something as little as just
happen with something as little as just
happen with something as little as just a live edge countertop that they just
a live edge countertop that they just
a live edge countertop that they just love or a clawfoot bathtub or maybe
love or a clawfoot bathtub or maybe
love or a clawfoot bathtub or maybe stained-glass window for me is my spiral
stained-glass window for me is my spiral
stained-glass window for me is my spiral staircase it’s this really a cute
staircase it’s this really a cute
staircase it’s this really a cute adorable wood stove that I have that
adorable wood stove that I have that
adorable wood stove that I have that heats my house it’s those things that
heats my house it’s those things that
heats my house it’s those things that make me feel so comfortable when I’m
make me feel so comfortable when I’m
make me feel so comfortable when I’m there for a lot of people what really
there for a lot of people what really
there for a lot of people what really works is attaching sentimental items so
works is attaching sentimental items so
works is attaching sentimental items so for example if I was to repurpose
for example if I was to repurpose
for example if I was to repurpose somebody’s defunct old grand piano
somebody’s defunct old grand piano
somebody’s defunct old grand piano that’s not going to work and then
that’s not going to work and then
that’s not going to work and then actually repurpose it into something
actually repurpose it into something
actually repurpose it into something that’s needed like a bed frame that’s a
that’s needed like a bed frame that’s a
that’s needed like a bed frame that’s a very good example of a very powerful
very good example of a very powerful
very good example of a very powerful design however the power of a home can
design however the power of a home can
design however the power of a home can also be to facilitate growth in
also be to facilitate growth in
also be to facilitate growth in someone’s life and that is where I
someone’s life and that is where I
someone’s life and that is where I become extremely inspired so a really
become extremely inspired so a really
become extremely inspired so a really good example of that would be say a
good example of that would be say a
good example of that would be say a flight simulator that looks an
flight simulator that looks an
flight simulator that looks an antiquated and it’s big and it doesn’t
antiquated and it’s big and it doesn’t
antiquated and it’s big and it doesn’t belong in a tiny home but if this is the
belong in a tiny home but if this is the
belong in a tiny home but if this is the item that can actually transform
item that can actually transform
item that can actually transform someone’s life by letting the owner
someone’s life by letting the owner
someone’s life by letting the owner achieve that long-held dream of becoming
achieve that long-held dream of becoming
achieve that long-held dream of becoming a pilot and then that pilot’s license
a pilot and then that pilot’s license
a pilot and then that pilot’s license actually turns into a job and the job
actually turns into a job and the job
actually turns into a job and the job into a career that is an example of an
into a career that is an example of an
into a career that is an example of an extremely powerful design that can
extremely powerful design that can
extremely powerful design that can really change someone’s life so the same
really change someone’s life so the same
really change someone’s life so the same way that a home has this power to propel
way that a home has this power to propel
way that a home has this power to propel someone’s life forward the lack of a
someone’s life forward the lack of a
someone’s life forward the lack of a home really can be a debilitated and
home really can be a debilitated and
home really can be a debilitated and burden in this country we’ve gone
burden in this country we’ve gone
burden in this country we’ve gone through a series of decades where the
through a series of decades where the
through a series of decades where the cost of our housing has outpaced our
cost of our housing has outpaced our
cost of our housing has outpaced our incomes to such a degree that we have
incomes to such a degree that we have
incomes to such a degree that we have this growing homeless population and we
this growing homeless population and we
this growing homeless population and we have families spending more and more of
have families spending more and more of
have families spending more and more of their income every year on their housing
their income every year on their housing
their income every year on their housing you see the tiny house movement is not a
you see the tiny house movement is not a
you see the tiny house movement is not a fad based upon an effectuation with
fad based upon an effectuation with
fad based upon an effectuation with everything small the tiny house movement
everything small the tiny house movement
everything small the tiny house movement is a response to these growing
is a response to these growing
is a response to these growing environmental and economic factors that
environmental and economic factors that
environmental and economic factors that are only going to become more and more
are only going to become more and more
are only going to become more and more extreme in years to come and many people
extreme in years to come and many people
extreme in years to come and many people are looking at tiny homes as this
are looking at tiny homes as this
are looking at tiny homes as this ability as this way to address these new
ability as this way to address these new
ability as this way to address these new realities and the funny thing is tiny
realities and the funny thing is tiny
realities and the funny thing is tiny houses are nothing new
houses are nothing new
houses are nothing new you see in 1950 the average median home
you see in 1950 the average median home
you see in 1950 the average median home size for a family of four was under a
size for a family of four was under a
size for a family of four was under a thousand square feet and it’s hard to
thousand square feet and it’s hard to
thousand square feet and it’s hard to believe now because the average median
believe now because the average median
believe now because the average median home size now is twenty five hundred
home size now is twenty five hundred
home size now is twenty five hundred square feet in 1999 when I started
square feet in 1999 when I started
square feet in 1999 when I started building homes the average median income
building homes the average median income
building homes the average median income was around $40,000 but the average home
was around $40,000 but the average home
was around $40,000 but the average home sale price or the median home sale price
sale price or the median home sale price
sale price or the median home sale price was a hundred and sixty thousand dollars
was a hundred and sixty thousand dollars
was a hundred and sixty thousand dollars now fast forward of 2016 the median home
now fast forward of 2016 the median home
now fast forward of 2016 the median home sale price in our country is over three
sale price in our country is over three
sale price in our country is over three hundred thousand dollars and that’s an
hundred thousand dollars and that’s an
hundred thousand dollars and that’s an increase of 93 percent in 17 years so
increase of 93 percent in 17 years so
increase of 93 percent in 17 years so what that really means is that the cost
what that really means is that the cost
what that really means is that the cost of our housing has been outpacing the
of our housing has been outpacing the
of our housing has been outpacing the gains in our income by three times over
gains in our income by three times over
gains in our income by three times over this period and if you actually factor
this period and if you actually factor
this period and if you actually factor in inflation the median average wage in
in inflation the median average wage in
in inflation the median average wage in this country has actually gone down by
this country has actually gone down by
this country has actually gone down by two and a half percent during that time
two and a half percent during that time
two and a half percent during that time and this is the first time in modern
and this is the first time in modern
and this is the first time in modern history in America where our wages have
history in America where our wages have
history in America where our wages have stayed stagnant for a decade and now
stayed stagnant for a decade and now
stayed stagnant for a decade and now it’s been over two so how did this
it’s been over two so how did this
it’s been over two so how did this happen well I’ll tell you a story when I
happen well I’ll tell you a story when I
happen well I’ll tell you a story when I first started building tiny homes or not
first started building tiny homes or not
first started building tiny homes or not tiny homes big homes in the early 2000s
tiny homes big homes in the early 2000s
tiny homes big homes in the early 2000s we were doing major remodels and almost
we were doing major remodels and almost
we were doing major remodels and almost entirely we were doing them for couples
entirely we were doing them for couples
entirely we were doing them for couples who had already raised their family in a
who had already raised their family in a
who had already raised their family in a much more modest home and what they were
much more modest home and what they were
much more modest home and what they were doing is they were using the the equity
doing is they were using the the equity
doing is they were using the the equity that had appreciated over the years to
that had appreciated over the years to
that had appreciated over the years to reinvest in their home doubling the
reinvest in their home doubling the
reinvest in their home doubling the square footage and actually right at the
square footage and actually right at the
square footage and actually right at the moment where their need for the space
moment where their need for the space
moment where their need for the space was the least and they weren’t doing it
was the least and they weren’t doing it
was the least and they weren’t doing it because of their need for the space they
because of their need for the space they
because of their need for the space they were doing it entirely based upon this
were doing it entirely based upon this
were doing it entirely based upon this idea that their house was going to be a
idea that their house was going to be a
idea that their house was going to be a retirement plan it was an investment and
retirement plan it was an investment and
retirement plan it was an investment and the problem is when enough people start
the problem is when enough people start
the problem is when enough people start looking at real estate strictly as an
looking at real estate strictly as an
looking at real estate strictly as an investment is it turns into a
investment is it turns into a
investment is it turns into a self-perpetuating cycle so the
self-perpetuating cycle so the
self-perpetuating cycle so the appreciation of our housing is
appreciation of our housing is
appreciation of our housing is completely
completely
completely pending on the demand but that demand is
pending on the demand but that demand is
pending on the demand but that demand is completely dependent on the expectation
completely dependent on the expectation
completely dependent on the expectation of appreciation so what it’s done is
of appreciation so what it’s done is
of appreciation so what it’s done is it’s taking a larger and larger portion
it’s taking a larger and larger portion
it’s taking a larger and larger portion of our country’s net worth and actually
of our country’s net worth and actually
of our country’s net worth and actually channeled it into real estate which is a
channeled it into real estate which is a
channeled it into real estate which is a highly fluctuating asset and has left us
highly fluctuating asset and has left us
highly fluctuating asset and has left us exposed as a country to housing
exposed as a country to housing
exposed as a country to housing downturns and we felt the broad ripple
downturns and we felt the broad ripple
downturns and we felt the broad ripple effects in 2008 when we had a bubble
effects in 2008 when we had a bubble
effects in 2008 when we had a bubble that burst and what we did was to
that burst and what we did was to
that burst and what we did was to mitigate the recession as well as also
mitigate the recession as well as also
mitigate the recession as well as also try to boost the economy back up and
try to boost the economy back up and
try to boost the economy back up and incur a recovery we lowered our interest
incur a recovery we lowered our interest
incur a recovery we lowered our interest rates you see that’s the tool that we
rates you see that’s the tool that we
rates you see that’s the tool that we use to actually start to incentivize
use to actually start to incentivize
use to actually start to incentivize purchasing and borrowing of housing and
purchasing and borrowing of housing and
purchasing and borrowing of housing and what’s happened is we actually it was
what’s happened is we actually it was
what’s happened is we actually it was very successful it was a terrific thing
very successful it was a terrific thing
very successful it was a terrific thing and the appreciation of our houses have
and the appreciation of our houses have
and the appreciation of our houses have gained right back to the same point
gained right back to the same point
gained right back to the same point where we were right before the bubble
where we were right before the bubble
where we were right before the bubble burst in 2007 the only problem with that
burst in 2007 the only problem with that
burst in 2007 the only problem with that is that our wages haven’t increased and
is that our wages haven’t increased and
is that our wages haven’t increased and now we’ve actually lost the ability of
now we’ve actually lost the ability of
now we’ve actually lost the ability of our most effective financial tool to
our most effective financial tool to
our most effective financial tool to mitigate any future adjustment because
mitigate any future adjustment because
mitigate any future adjustment because our interest rates are still as low as
our interest rates are still as low as
our interest rates are still as low as they can go we can’t lower them anymore
they can go we can’t lower them anymore
they can go we can’t lower them anymore and we already know that we have 8 to 10
and we already know that we have 8 to 10
and we already know that we have 8 to 10 thousand people per day entering
thousand people per day entering
thousand people per day entering retirement age and the question that we
retirement age and the question that we
retirement age and the question that we have to ask ourselves is what’s going to
have to ask ourselves is what’s going to
have to ask ourselves is what’s going to happen when the baby boomers go to cash
happen when the baby boomers go to cash
happen when the baby boomers go to cash in on their retirement plan
in on their retirement plan
in on their retirement plan who’s going to absorb these homes you
who’s going to absorb these homes you
who’s going to absorb these homes you see there’s a number of worries and
see there’s a number of worries and
see there’s a number of worries and factors when thinking about who is going
factors when thinking about who is going
factors when thinking about who is going to absorb the homes from retirees
to absorb the homes from retirees
to absorb the homes from retirees because today in the economy although
because today in the economy although
because today in the economy although the employment numbers are good the
the employment numbers are good the
the employment numbers are good the wages are down plus younger generations
wages are down plus younger generations
wages are down plus younger generations are actually coming out of college with
are actually coming out of college with
are actually coming out of college with unprecedented levels of student loan
unprecedented levels of student loan
unprecedented levels of student loan debt that is not percent actually that
debt that is not percent actually that
debt that is not percent actually that is number in billions there on the left
is number in billions there on the left
is number in billions there on the left and right now we’re at one point three
and right now we’re at one point three
and right now we’re at one point three trillion
trillion
trillion so that’s a really big issue because on
so that’s a really big issue because on
so that’s a really big issue because on top of that attitudes are shifting you
top of that attitudes are shifting you
top of that attitudes are shifting you know family sizes are smaller people are
know family sizes are smaller people are
know family sizes are smaller people are moving around a lot more and there’s
moving around a lot more and there’s
moving around a lot more and there’s this big trend to moving away from the
this big trend to moving away from the
this big trend to moving away from the suburbs and into our city centers and
suburbs and into our city centers and
suburbs and into our city centers and the bottom line is when the baby boomers
the bottom line is when the baby boomers
the bottom line is when the baby boomers go to cash in on retirement plans
go to cash in on retirement plans
go to cash in on retirement plans there’s a very good chance that they’re
there’s a very good chance that they’re
there’s a very good chance that they’re going to be faced with the reality that
going to be faced with the reality that
going to be faced with the reality that younger generations are in no position
younger generations are in no position
younger generations are in no position to afford these large homes and are no
to afford these large homes and are no
to afford these large homes and are no longer interested in a large home in the
longer interested in a large home in the
longer interested in a large home in the suburbs now I know this sounds like a
suburbs now I know this sounds like a
suburbs now I know this sounds like a very grave scenario but I’m not here to
very grave scenario but I’m not here to
very grave scenario but I’m not here to give you a presentation about doom and
give you a presentation about doom and
give you a presentation about doom and gloom I’m here to talk about opportunity
gloom I’m here to talk about opportunity
gloom I’m here to talk about opportunity because here I see a perfect opportunity
because here I see a perfect opportunity
because here I see a perfect opportunity to apply the same principles that we
to apply the same principles that we
to apply the same principles that we learned about power and efficiency to
learned about power and efficiency to
learned about power and efficiency to the needs of our housing sector you see
the needs of our housing sector you see
the needs of our housing sector you see a tiny home could be a very powerful
a tiny home could be a very powerful
a tiny home could be a very powerful tool for us to help us address these
tool for us to help us address these
tool for us to help us address these issues however right now we have rules
issues however right now we have rules
issues however right now we have rules that basically make living in a tiny
that basically make living in a tiny
that basically make living in a tiny home virtually impossible the reality is
home virtually impossible the reality is
home virtually impossible the reality is is the hardest part about living in a
is the hardest part about living in a
is the hardest part about living in a tiny home is not how you pare down your
tiny home is not how you pare down your
tiny home is not how you pare down your shoe collection contrary to popular
shoe collection contrary to popular
shoe collection contrary to popular belief the hardest part is navigating
belief the hardest part is navigating
belief the hardest part is navigating building codes and zoning requirements
building codes and zoning requirements
building codes and zoning requirements that really limit their creation so
that really limit their creation so
that really limit their creation so there is an issue going on
there is an issue going on
there is an issue going on and people definitely recognize that
and people definitely recognize that
and people definitely recognize that this is an issue so in 2016 I was part
this is an issue so in 2016 I was part
this is an issue so in 2016 I was part of a delegation that actually
of a delegation that actually
of a delegation that actually successfully articulated the need to
successfully articulated the need to
successfully articulated the need to readjust and amend our building codes to
readjust and amend our building codes to
readjust and amend our building codes to accommodate for tiny houses and in 2018
accommodate for tiny houses and in 2018
accommodate for tiny houses and in 2018 those amendments will be implemented and
those amendments will be implemented and
those amendments will be implemented and now it’s up to the local municipalities
now it’s up to the local municipalities
now it’s up to the local municipalities to adopt those recommendations however
to adopt those recommendations however
to adopt those recommendations however the harder part facing tiny homes is
the harder part facing tiny homes is
the harder part facing tiny homes is convincing zoning officials to actually
convincing zoning officials to actually
convincing zoning officials to actually permit tiny homes into the community you
permit tiny homes into the community you
permit tiny homes into the community you see the responsibility of zoning
see the responsibility of zoning
see the responsibility of zoning officials is actually to look out for
officials is actually to look out for
officials is actually to look out for the interests of the people within their
the interests of the people within their
the interests of the people within their community and making sure that no policy
community and making sure that no policy
community and making sure that no policy that they introduce is going to
that they introduce is going to
that they introduce is going to negatively affect the property values is
negatively affect the property values is
negatively affect the property values is number one now anytime that we start to
number one now anytime that we start to
number one now anytime that we start to implement any kind of affordable housing
implement any kind of affordable housing
implement any kind of affordable housing projects inevitably we end up lowering
projects inevitably we end up lowering
projects inevitably we end up lowering the property values in the surrounding
the property values in the surrounding
the property values in the surrounding area and that’s why everybody likes the
area and that’s why everybody likes the
area and that’s why everybody likes the idea of affordable housing but it’s just
idea of affordable housing but it’s just
idea of affordable housing but it’s just as long as it’s not in my backyard right
as long as it’s not in my backyard right
as long as it’s not in my backyard right tiny homes have this unique ability to
tiny homes have this unique ability to
tiny homes have this unique ability to actually create lower cost housing in
actually create lower cost housing in
actually create lower cost housing in our communities without negatively
our communities without negatively
our communities without negatively affecting the property values because we
affecting the property values because we
affecting the property values because we can they can be dispersed they’re small
can they can be dispersed they’re small
can they can be dispersed they’re small enough that they can fit into the cracks
enough that they can fit into the cracks
enough that they can fit into the cracks of our already existing infrastructure
of our already existing infrastructure
of our already existing infrastructure and that is a really big thing because
and that is a really big thing because
and that is a really big thing because it actually does two things for us you
it actually does two things for us you
it actually does two things for us you know every time that we actually
know every time that we actually
know every time that we actually consolidate low-income housing or any
consolidate low-income housing or any
consolidate low-income housing or any kind of affordable housing what we
kind of affordable housing what we
kind of affordable housing what we inevitably create is we create a project
inevitably create is we create a project
inevitably create is we create a project or we create a trailer park or we create
or we create a trailer park or we create
or we create a trailer park or we create a slum and we end up perpetuating an
a slum and we end up perpetuating an
a slum and we end up perpetuating an environment that continues the cycle of
environment that continues the cycle of
environment that continues the cycle of poverty by cutting off low-income
poverty by cutting off low-income
poverty by cutting off low-income individuals from access to opportunity
individuals from access to opportunity
individuals from access to opportunity so fortunately there are a few squad a
so fortunately there are a few squad a
so fortunately there are a few squad a few cities that are recognizing that
few cities that are recognizing that
few cities that are recognizing that affordable housing needs to be
affordable housing needs to be
affordable housing needs to be implemented better and many of them are
implemented better and many of them are
implemented better and many of them are doing it by trying to encourage
doing it by trying to encourage
doing it by trying to encourage something called backyard cottages or
something called backyard cottages or
something called backyard cottages or basically mother-in-law apartments
basically mother-in-law apartments
basically mother-in-law apartments essentially tiny homes on foundations in
essentially tiny homes on foundations in
essentially tiny homes on foundations in backyards and they’re doing it to try to
backyards and they’re doing it to try to
backyards and they’re doing it to try to tackle some of the big issues with the
tackle some of the big issues with the
tackle some of the big issues with the need for urban density you know the need
need for urban density you know the need
need for urban density you know the need for efficiency within our city as well
for efficiency within our city as well
for efficiency within our city as well as low cost housing and ironically
as low cost housing and ironically
as low cost housing and ironically traffic congestion
traffic congestion
traffic congestion however these policies haven’t had the
however these policies haven’t had the
however these policies haven’t had the desired effect that advocates like
desired effect that advocates like
desired effect that advocates like myself had hoped because of one
myself had hoped because of one
myself had hoped because of one important reason and that’s because
important reason and that’s because
important reason and that’s because people that can afford to build a
people that can afford to build a
people that can afford to build a backyard cottage or a tiny home in their
backyard cottage or a tiny home in their
backyard cottage or a tiny home in their yard lack the financial incentive to
yard lack the financial incentive to
yard lack the financial incentive to share that property with another family
share that property with another family
share that property with another family and the flipside is that people that
and the flipside is that people that
and the flipside is that people that actually could use the relief from
actually could use the relief from
actually could use the relief from having a rentable space in their
having a rentable space in their
having a rentable space in their backyard
backyard
backyard are in no position to take on an extra
are in no position to take on an extra
are in no position to take on an extra construction loan to actually make that
construction loan to actually make that
construction loan to actually make that a reality so there is one important
a reality so there is one important
a reality so there is one important precedence that’s happened in our
precedence that’s happened in our
precedence that’s happened in our country which is making a major
country which is making a major
country which is making a major distinction Fresno California has
distinction Fresno California has
distinction Fresno California has rewritten their zoning ordinances to
rewritten their zoning ordinances to
rewritten their zoning ordinances to allow tiny homes on wheels to be used as
allow tiny homes on wheels to be used as
allow tiny homes on wheels to be used as accessory dwelling units on existing
accessory dwelling units on existing
accessory dwelling units on existing properties of 6,000 feet or greater and
properties of 6,000 feet or greater and
properties of 6,000 feet or greater and this is a really important distinction
this is a really important distinction
this is a really important distinction because what it essentially allows is
because what it essentially allows is
because what it essentially allows is for a family or a property owner who’s
for a family or a property owner who’s
for a family or a property owner who’s struggling to pay their mortgage a
struggling to pay their mortgage a
struggling to pay their mortgage a pathway to actually having relief by
pathway to actually having relief by
pathway to actually having relief by using a tiny home in a partnership what
using a tiny home in a partnership what
using a tiny home in a partnership what it also does is create a pathway for a
it also does is create a pathway for a
it also does is create a pathway for a lower income family to move into an area
lower income family to move into an area
lower income family to move into an area of greater affluence where their
of greater affluence where their
of greater affluence where their children can grow up with more
children can grow up with more
children can grow up with more opportunity and the thing that actually
opportunity and the thing that actually
opportunity and the thing that actually makes it all work is that these can be
makes it all work is that these can be
makes it all work is that these can be implemented in ways that don’t
implemented in ways that don’t
implemented in ways that don’t negatively affect the surrounding
negatively affect the surrounding
negatively affect the surrounding property values and it requires no
property values and it requires no
property values and it requires no additional infrastructure cost from the
additional infrastructure cost from the
additional infrastructure cost from the municipalities see I think that we all
municipalities see I think that we all
municipalities see I think that we all want to live or we all want cities that
want to live or we all want cities that
want to live or we all want cities that have space for our schoolteachers our
have space for our schoolteachers our
have space for our schoolteachers our police officers the firemen the
police officers the firemen the
police officers the firemen the carpenters the artists and the musicians
carpenters the artists and the musicians
carpenters the artists and the musicians because that actually elevates the
because that actually elevates the
because that actually elevates the quality of life for everyone in the
quality of life for everyone in the
quality of life for everyone in the community and if a tiny house can be a
community and if a tiny house can be a
community and if a tiny house can be a tool that we can use to address the
tool that we can use to address the
tool that we can use to address the needs of expanded affordable housing as
needs of expanded affordable housing as
needs of expanded affordable housing as well as providing a pathway for
well as providing a pathway for
well as providing a pathway for struggling homeowners to avoid
struggling homeowners to avoid
struggling homeowners to avoid foreclosure and actually address their
foreclosure and actually address their
foreclosure and actually address their issues in a different way than selling
issues in a different way than selling
issues in a different way than selling their property this is a very powerful
their property this is a very powerful
their property this is a very powerful tool it’s a win-win scenario and in my
tool it’s a win-win scenario and in my
tool it’s a win-win scenario and in my world that is the hallmark of good
world that is the hallmark of good
world that is the hallmark of good design you see tiny home movement and
design you see tiny home movement and
design you see tiny home movement and the tiny house movement continues to
the tiny house movement continues to
the tiny house movement continues to grow despite major hurdles in legality
grow despite major hurdles in legality
grow despite major hurdles in legality because tiny houses are not a fad tiny
because tiny houses are not a fad tiny
because tiny houses are not a fad tiny houses are
houses are
houses are response to this growing set of economic
response to this growing set of economic
response to this growing set of economic and environmental factors in our country
and environmental factors in our country
and environmental factors in our country and the reality is we all have incentive
and the reality is we all have incentive
and the reality is we all have incentive right now to start looking for all the
right now to start looking for all the
right now to start looking for all the tools available to us to address the
tools available to us to address the
tools available to us to address the needs of a changing world thank you very
needs of a changing world thank you very
needs of a changing world thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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