[Applause] thank you Kevin okay so most of you guys
thank you Kevin okay so most of you guys
thank you Kevin okay so most of you guys in the audience here are from the City
in the audience here are from the City
in the audience here are from the City of Toronto and as Kevin suggested you
of Toronto and as Kevin suggested you
of Toronto and as Kevin suggested you already know how expensive it is to buy
already know how expensive it is to buy
already know how expensive it is to buy a home here if you are looking to buy a
a home here if you are looking to buy a
a home here if you are looking to buy a home now you’re faced with an egregious
home now you’re faced with an egregious
home now you’re faced with an egregious cost of real estate where $1,000,000 in
cost of real estate where $1,000,000 in
cost of real estate where $1,000,000 in the city will get you something like
the city will get you something like
the city will get you something like this very tiny Shack if you’re lucky if
this very tiny Shack if you’re lucky if
this very tiny Shack if you’re lucky if you’re a renter in the city you’ve
you’re a renter in the city you’ve
you’re a renter in the city you’ve probably had to aggressively lower your
probably had to aggressively lower your
probably had to aggressively lower your expectations while looking for
expectations while looking for
expectations while looking for apartments maybe you start out you want
apartments maybe you start out you want
apartments maybe you start out you want two bedrooms a nice view and by the end
two bedrooms a nice view and by the end
two bedrooms a nice view and by the end of it you’re willing to settle for a
of it you’re willing to settle for a
of it you’re willing to settle for a windowless basement as long as you can
windowless basement as long as you can
windowless basement as long as you can pay under $1,500 a month if you’re
pay under $1,500 a month if you’re
pay under $1,500 a month if you’re someone in the city who needs to use
someone in the city who needs to use
someone in the city who needs to use social housing you’re facing five to
social housing you’re facing five to
social housing you’re facing five to 10-year wait lists just to even get an
10-year wait lists just to even get an
10-year wait lists just to even get an apartment and in the mean time the
apartment and in the mean time the
apartment and in the mean time the city’s prime real estate is being eaten
city’s prime real estate is being eaten
city’s prime real estate is being eaten up by luxury condominium developments so
up by luxury condominium developments so
up by luxury condominium developments so as we can see affordable housing is an
as we can see affordable housing is an
as we can see affordable housing is an issue that affects people from all walks
issue that affects people from all walks
issue that affects people from all walks of life in Toronto and it’s actually an
of life in Toronto and it’s actually an
of life in Toronto and it’s actually an issue that faces people in major
issue that faces people in major
issue that faces people in major metropolitan cities around the world so
metropolitan cities around the world so
metropolitan cities around the world so there have been a variety of different
there have been a variety of different
there have been a variety of different responses to this crisis and today I
responses to this crisis and today I
responses to this crisis and today I want to talk about one very small effort
want to talk about one very small effort
want to talk about one very small effort that’s coming out of the United States
that’s coming out of the United States
that’s coming out of the United States and quickly gaining popularity in Canada
and quickly gaining popularity in Canada
and quickly gaining popularity in Canada so when I say small I do literally mean
so when I say small I do literally mean
so when I say small I do literally mean small I’m talking about as Kevin
small I’m talking about as Kevin
small I’m talking about as Kevin suggested the tiny housing movement so
suggested the tiny housing movement so
suggested the tiny housing movement so the tiny housing movement describes
the tiny housing movement describes
the tiny housing movement describes itself as a social movement that’s about
itself as a social movement that’s about
itself as a social movement that’s about living simply in a small home and
living simply in a small home and
living simply in a small home and normally it’s a home that you’ve
normally it’s a home that you’ve
normally it’s a home that you’ve actually built yourself so if you guys
actually built yourself so if you guys
actually built yourself so if you guys have spent any amount of time on
have spent any amount of time on
have spent any amount of time on Instagram or Pinterest in the last five
Instagram or Pinterest in the last five
Instagram or Pinterest in the last five years you’ve probably come across these
years you’ve probably come across these
years you’ve probably come across these sort of cutesy Hobbit like interiors of
sort of cutesy Hobbit like interiors of
sort of cutesy Hobbit like interiors of tiny homes and I will admit they are
tiny homes and I will admit they are
tiny homes and I will admit they are very aesthetically pleasing and very
very aesthetically pleasing and very
very aesthetically pleasing and very cute but for all of its Instagram about
cute but for all of its Instagram about
cute but for all of its Instagram about koala
koala
koala I don’t actually think that the the tiny
I don’t actually think that the the tiny
I don’t actually think that the the tiny housing movement presents a sustainable
housing movement presents a sustainable
housing movement presents a sustainable long-term solution to our problem of
long-term solution to our problem of
long-term solution to our problem of housing and I’ll explain why
housing and I’ll explain why
housing and I’ll explain why so one thing you should know about the
so one thing you should know about the
so one thing you should know about the tiny living movement is that it presents
tiny living movement is that it presents
tiny living movement is that it presents itself as a very progressive and
itself as a very progressive and
itself as a very progressive and paradigm shifting change so the idea is
paradigm shifting change so the idea is
paradigm shifting change so the idea is you no longer have to mark the start of
you no longer have to mark the start of
you no longer have to mark the start of your adulthood by moving out buying a
your adulthood by moving out buying a
your adulthood by moving out buying a home in the suburbs and starting your
home in the suburbs and starting your
home in the suburbs and starting your family you don’t need a house with four
family you don’t need a house with four
family you don’t need a house with four bedrooms two bathrooms more than one
bedrooms two bathrooms more than one
bedrooms two bathrooms more than one pair of shoes if you want to feel
pair of shoes if you want to feel
pair of shoes if you want to feel sustained and happy but for all of this
sustained and happy but for all of this
sustained and happy but for all of this anti-consumerist language I think the
anti-consumerist language I think the
anti-consumerist language I think the tiny housing movement actually thinks
tiny housing movement actually thinks
tiny housing movement actually thinks very conventionally about ownership so
very conventionally about ownership so
very conventionally about ownership so we tend to think about ownership as an
we tend to think about ownership as an
we tend to think about ownership as an economic transaction so it’s about you
economic transaction so it’s about you
economic transaction so it’s about you as a buyer going in to the marketplace
as a buyer going in to the marketplace
as a buyer going in to the marketplace to meet a seller and your relationship
to meet a seller and your relationship
to meet a seller and your relationship is mediated by your purchasing power in
is mediated by your purchasing power in
is mediated by your purchasing power in the marketplace what how much money you
the marketplace what how much money you
the marketplace what how much money you have determines what you’re gonna be
have determines what you’re gonna be
have determines what you’re gonna be able to get it what we don’t actually do
able to get it what we don’t actually do
able to get it what we don’t actually do is think about housing as a social right
is think about housing as a social right
is think about housing as a social right and for me this is an issue because
and for me this is an issue because
and for me this is an issue because access to housing actually mediates our
access to housing actually mediates our
access to housing actually mediates our access to so many other basic rights
access to so many other basic rights
access to so many other basic rights running water a safe place to store your
running water a safe place to store your
running water a safe place to store your objects a safe place for your person a
objects a safe place for your person a
objects a safe place for your person a place to rest a comfortable temperature
place to rest a comfortable temperature
place to rest a comfortable temperature and so on so one thing I look at in my
and so on so one thing I look at in my
and so on so one thing I look at in my dissertation is the various ways we
dissertation is the various ways we
dissertation is the various ways we could think about the idea of a housing
could think about the idea of a housing
could think about the idea of a housing crisis so it has the material component
crisis so it has the material component
crisis so it has the material component it has an economic component but I also
it has an economic component but I also
it has an economic component but I also think it has an imaginative component
think it has an imaginative component
think it has an imaginative component we’re overly invested I think in
we’re overly invested I think in
we’re overly invested I think in narratives of ownership that privileged
narratives of ownership that privileged
narratives of ownership that privileged individual autonomy that’s determined by
individual autonomy that’s determined by
individual autonomy that’s determined by the marketplace rather than thinking
the marketplace rather than thinking
the marketplace rather than thinking about housing as a social right or a
about housing as a social right or a
about housing as a social right or a social responsibility in my mind the
social responsibility in my mind the
social responsibility in my mind the tiny living movement only really offers
tiny living movement only really offers
tiny living movement only really offers an individualized and market-based
an individualized and market-based
an individualized and market-based solution to housing and for me
solution to housing and for me
solution to housing and for me that’s a problem so and then explain to
that’s a problem so and then explain to
that’s a problem so and then explain to you why let’s go back and talk a little
you why let’s go back and talk a little
you why let’s go back and talk a little bit more about tiny houses so one of the
bit more about tiny houses so one of the
bit more about tiny houses so one of the reasons that the tiny living movement
reasons that the tiny living movement
reasons that the tiny living movement first caught my attention wasn’t because
first caught my attention wasn’t because
first caught my attention wasn’t because it was new
it was new
it was new or different in fact it seemed to me
or different in fact it seemed to me
or different in fact it seemed to me very familiar and very old so one of the
very familiar and very old so one of the
very familiar and very old so one of the writers I work on in my dissertation is
writers I work on in my dissertation is
writers I work on in my dissertation is Henry David Thoreau on the screen up
Henry David Thoreau on the screen up
Henry David Thoreau on the screen up there the original hipster for my for
there the original hipster for my for
there the original hipster for my for English people in the audience today and
English people in the audience today and
English people in the audience today and Henry David Thoreau was a 19th century
Henry David Thoreau was a 19th century
Henry David Thoreau was a 19th century writer he lived in Concord Massachusetts
writer he lived in Concord Massachusetts
writer he lived in Concord Massachusetts which is sort of a was at the time a
which is sort of a was at the time a
which is sort of a was at the time a popular urban area and he moved out of
popular urban area and he moved out of
popular urban area and he moved out of Concord into the woods like literally
Concord into the woods like literally
Concord into the woods like literally the woods the forest and he built
the woods the forest and he built
the woods the forest and he built himself a small cabin which is pictured
himself a small cabin which is pictured
himself a small cabin which is pictured there on the shore of Walden Pond and he
there on the shore of Walden Pond and he
there on the shore of Walden Pond and he lived there for about two years and
lived there for about two years and
lived there for about two years and that’s just the Front’s piece to walden
that’s just the Front’s piece to walden
that’s just the Front’s piece to walden up there the book that kind of details
up there the book that kind of details
up there the book that kind of details this experience so on the other side
this experience so on the other side
this experience so on the other side here we have Ryan Mitchell and Ryan
here we have Ryan Mitchell and Ryan
here we have Ryan Mitchell and Ryan Mitchell is the founder of the tiny life
Mitchell is the founder of the tiny life
Mitchell is the founder of the tiny life which is a company that now actually
which is a company that now actually
which is a company that now actually builds tiny homes they also create a lot
builds tiny homes they also create a lot
builds tiny homes they also create a lot of cultural production around tiny
of cultural production around tiny
of cultural production around tiny houses so they have a website they have
houses so they have a website they have
houses so they have a website they have conferences blogs magazines like all of
conferences blogs magazines like all of
conferences blogs magazines like all of the stuff you could possibly imagine so
the stuff you could possibly imagine so
the stuff you could possibly imagine so there’s a lot of interesting
there’s a lot of interesting
there’s a lot of interesting similarities I think between Mitchell
similarities I think between Mitchell
similarities I think between Mitchell and Ryan for the first parts they begin
and Ryan for the first parts they begin
and Ryan for the first parts they begin their process of sort of thinking about
their process of sort of thinking about
their process of sort of thinking about living small during times of economic
living small during times of economic
living small during times of economic crisis so Mitchell starts this built of
crisis so Mitchell starts this built of
crisis so Mitchell starts this built of this some company of four living small
this some company of four living small
this some company of four living small in about 2008 when the housing crisis is
in about 2008 when the housing crisis is
in about 2008 when the housing crisis is really thinking its teeth into the
really thinking its teeth into the
really thinking its teeth into the marketplace and for both the ROE and
marketplace and for both the ROE and
marketplace and for both the ROE and Mitchell the idea of economic
Mitchell the idea of economic
Mitchell the idea of economic self-determination is absolutely crucial
self-determination is absolutely crucial
self-determination is absolutely crucial to their idea of freedom right you need
to their idea of freedom right you need
to their idea of freedom right you need to be able to own something free and
to be able to own something free and
to be able to own something free and clear doesn’t matter how small it is but
clear doesn’t matter how small it is but
clear doesn’t matter how small it is but you have to have it in general the idea
you have to have it in general the idea
you have to have it in general the idea of affordability is crucial to thinking
of affordability is crucial to thinking
of affordability is crucial to thinking about tiny living it’s one of its
about tiny living it’s one of its
about tiny living it’s one of its central tenants so this is an image I
central tenants so this is an image I
central tenants so this is an image I pulled off of the website of one of the
pulled off of the website of one of the
pulled off of the website of one of the various tiny living web pages and it’s
various tiny living web pages and it’s
various tiny living web pages and it’s kind of an in spa framing that she will
kind of an in spa framing that she will
kind of an in spa framing that she will frequently see when you visit these web
frequently see when you visit these web
frequently see when you visit these web sites go to their conferences go down
sites go to their conferences go down
sites go to their conferences go down the rabbit hole as I have done you
the rabbit hole as I have done you
the rabbit hole as I have done you weren’t born to pay bills and died you
weren’t born to pay bills and died you
weren’t born to pay bills and died you weren’t born to
weren’t born to
weren’t born to off debt and I I mean I agree with the
off debt and I I mean I agree with the
off debt and I I mean I agree with the sentiment of course and I’m sure many of
sentiment of course and I’m sure many of
sentiment of course and I’m sure many of us in the audience also do as well if
us in the audience also do as well if
us in the audience also do as well if you don’t I mean it’s like wait for me
you don’t I mean it’s like wait for me
you don’t I mean it’s like wait for me outside I’ll explain to you why you
outside I’ll explain to you why you
outside I’ll explain to you why you should but for the most but for the most
should but for the most but for the most
should but for the most but for the most part right for all the talk of you know
part right for all the talk of you know
part right for all the talk of you know economic freedom we need to ask how
economic freedom we need to ask how
economic freedom we need to ask how affordable is a tiny house really so if
affordable is a tiny house really so if
affordable is a tiny house really so if you were to actually go and build a tiny
you were to actually go and build a tiny
you were to actually go and build a tiny house yourself you’re looking at about
house yourself you’re looking at about
house yourself you’re looking at about twenty seven to thirty seven thousand
twenty seven to thirty seven thousand
twenty seven to thirty seven thousand dollars if you had to get someone to
dollars if you had to get someone to
dollars if you had to get someone to build your tiny house for you the cost
build your tiny house for you the cost
build your tiny house for you the cost could be upwards of eighty thousand
could be upwards of eighty thousand
could be upwards of eighty thousand dollars and that’s assuming you know I
dollars and that’s assuming you know I
dollars and that’s assuming you know I guess how Instagram abour you want the
guess how Instagram abour you want the
guess how Instagram abour you want the interior to be but still thirty thousand
interior to be but still thirty thousand
interior to be but still thirty thousand dollars eighty thousand dollars these
dollars eighty thousand dollars these
dollars eighty thousand dollars these price points made me ask who is the
price points made me ask who is the
price points made me ask who is the imagined consumer of a tiny home when I
imagined consumer of a tiny home when I
imagined consumer of a tiny home when I think about it to me it seems like it’s
think about it to me it seems like it’s
think about it to me it seems like it’s being geared towards a middle-class
being geared towards a middle-class
being geared towards a middle-class person you have thirty thousand dollars
person you have thirty thousand dollars
person you have thirty thousand dollars in savings or access to credit and
in savings or access to credit and
in savings or access to credit and you’re gonna either put it down towards
you’re gonna either put it down towards
you’re gonna either put it down towards of down payment on a home or you’re
of down payment on a home or you’re
of down payment on a home or you’re gonna buy a tiny house free and clear
gonna buy a tiny house free and clear
gonna buy a tiny house free and clear but what do we do about people who don’t
but what do we do about people who don’t
but what do we do about people who don’t have access to this kind of credit or
have access to this kind of credit or
have access to this kind of credit or these kinds of savings not to mention
these kinds of savings not to mention
these kinds of savings not to mention that if you were to build your tiny home
that if you were to build your tiny home
that if you were to build your tiny home yourself you need about nine to twelve
yourself you need about nine to twelve
yourself you need about nine to twelve months of full-time building this tiny
months of full-time building this tiny
months of full-time building this tiny house to be able to even accomplish the
house to be able to even accomplish the
house to be able to even accomplish the project so it’s also imagining a person
project so it’s also imagining a person
project so it’s also imagining a person who can take this much time off of work
who can take this much time off of work
who can take this much time off of work in my mind this is a very middle-class
in my mind this is a very middle-class
in my mind this is a very middle-class solution to an issue which is not
solution to an issue which is not
solution to an issue which is not necessarily a problem but what do we do
necessarily a problem but what do we do
necessarily a problem but what do we do with vulnerable communities what do we
with vulnerable communities what do we
with vulnerable communities what do we do with people who can’t imagine saving
do with people who can’t imagine saving
do with people who can’t imagine saving this amount of money for for living or
this amount of money for for living or
this amount of money for for living or within a reasonable timeframe to me I
within a reasonable timeframe to me I
within a reasonable timeframe to me I think the tiny living movement presents
think the tiny living movement presents
think the tiny living movement presents a somewhat limited and narrow response
a somewhat limited and narrow response
a somewhat limited and narrow response to idea of housing it’s not affordable
to idea of housing it’s not affordable
to idea of housing it’s not affordable enough to be a universal solution so you
enough to be a universal solution so you
enough to be a universal solution so you might be thinking well tiny living can’t
might be thinking well tiny living can’t
might be thinking well tiny living can’t solve everybody’s problems so what or
solve everybody’s problems so what or
solve everybody’s problems so what or you might be thinking well we live in a
you might be thinking well we live in a
you might be thinking well we live in a capitalist society we live in a
capitalist society we live in a
capitalist society we live in a market-based society everything’s a
market-based society everything’s a
market-based society everything’s a commodity
commodity
commodity I mean right what so what so this is
I mean right what so what so this is
I mean right what so what so this is where I think humanities or English
where I think humanities or English
where I think humanities or English approach might be useful for us in
approach might be useful for us in
approach might be useful for us in thinking about the problem of housing so
thinking about the problem of housing so
thinking about the problem of housing so I’m about to hit you guys with some
I’m about to hit you guys with some
I’m about to hit you guys with some classical political philosophy right now
classical political philosophy right now
classical political philosophy right now so don’t fall asleep don’t check out
so don’t fall asleep don’t check out
so don’t fall asleep don’t check out it’s very important stay with me okay so
it’s very important stay with me okay so
it’s very important stay with me okay so one of the key ideas governing our
one of the key ideas governing our
one of the key ideas governing our Liberal Democratic Society which is the
Liberal Democratic Society which is the
Liberal Democratic Society which is the kind of society that we live in now is
kind of society that we live in now is
kind of society that we live in now is the idea of Justin Trudeau no the idea
the idea of Justin Trudeau no the idea
the idea of Justin Trudeau no the idea of the social contract so the social
of the social contract so the social
of the social contract so the social contract is essentially an arrangement
contract is essentially an arrangement
contract is essentially an arrangement between us as citizens and you and the
between us as citizens and you and the
between us as citizens and you and the state where we basically say okay we as
state where we basically say okay we as
state where we basically say okay we as citizens agree to abide by the
citizens agree to abide by the
citizens agree to abide by the government’s laws in exchange for
government’s laws in exchange for
government’s laws in exchange for protection of our persons and our
protection of our persons and our
protection of our persons and our property right so what this means it’s
property right so what this means it’s
property right so what this means it’s not necessarily an explicit arrangement
not necessarily an explicit arrangement
not necessarily an explicit arrangement you won’t sit down with Justin Trudeau
you won’t sit down with Justin Trudeau
you won’t sit down with Justin Trudeau and say okay I’ll obey your rules if
and say okay I’ll obey your rules if
and say okay I’ll obey your rules if nobody steals my car he’d be down for it
nobody steals my car he’d be down for it
nobody steals my car he’d be down for it but that’s not actually what is gonna
but that’s not actually what is gonna
but that’s not actually what is gonna happen it’s more of an implicit
happen it’s more of an implicit
happen it’s more of an implicit assumption that governs how we organize
assumption that governs how we organize
assumption that governs how we organize our civic life so the idea of protection
our civic life so the idea of protection
our civic life so the idea of protection here right the state’s gonna protect you
here right the state’s gonna protect you
here right the state’s gonna protect you it’s very important how this has been
it’s very important how this has been
it’s very important how this has been interpreted depends on your context but
interpreted depends on your context but
interpreted depends on your context but in North America this usually means that
in North America this usually means that
in North America this usually means that you already own something maybe it’s a
you already own something maybe it’s a
you already own something maybe it’s a house or a car and you have access to
house or a car and you have access to
house or a car and you have access to the state’s monopoly on violence or
the state’s monopoly on violence or
the state’s monopoly on violence or force to protect it so someone takes
force to protect it so someone takes
force to protect it so someone takes your stuff you can go to the police you
your stuff you can go to the police you
your stuff you can go to the police you can go to the law and they can try and
can go to the law and they can try and
can go to the law and they can try and address this issue that might sound like
address this issue that might sound like
address this issue that might sound like a perfectly fair arrangement and in some
a perfectly fair arrangement and in some
a perfectly fair arrangement and in some ways it actually is however what we saw
ways it actually is however what we saw
ways it actually is however what we saw during the housing crisis in the United
during the housing crisis in the United
during the housing crisis in the United States I think was a total breakdown of
States I think was a total breakdown of
States I think was a total breakdown of this arrangement so we saw tens of
this arrangement so we saw tens of
this arrangement so we saw tens of thousands of people lose their homes
thousands of people lose their homes
thousands of people lose their homes lose their investments go underwater on
lose their investments go underwater on
lose their investments go underwater on their mortgages and nothing was done
their mortgages and nothing was done
their mortgages and nothing was done really on the part of the state to
really on the part of the state to
really on the part of the state to redress this we did see the state offer
redress this we did see the state offer
redress this we did see the state offer huge bailouts for banks for investors
huge bailouts for banks for investors
huge bailouts for banks for investors for private capital so the state and the
for private capital so the state and the
for private capital so the state and the market their interests I guess we could
market their interests I guess we could
market their interests I guess we could say we’re simpatico in this moment but
say we’re simpatico in this moment but
say we’re simpatico in this moment but everybody else their relationship in the
everybody else their relationship in the
everybody else their relationship in the social contract
social contract
social contract kind of got pushed off to the side a
kind of got pushed off to the side a
kind of got pushed off to the side a little bit so in my mind this amounts to
little bit so in my mind this amounts to
little bit so in my mind this amounts to a total breakdown of the promise of the
a total breakdown of the promise of the
a total breakdown of the promise of the social contract and I think that people
social contract and I think that people
social contract and I think that people who are interested in tiny living would
who are interested in tiny living would
who are interested in tiny living would actually agree with me they would say
actually agree with me they would say
actually agree with me they would say yes the social contract is in jeopardy I
yes the social contract is in jeopardy I
yes the social contract is in jeopardy I we can’t trust the state to protect our
we can’t trust the state to protect our
we can’t trust the state to protect our interests their solution however remains
interests their solution however remains
interests their solution however remains an economically oriented one let’s still
an economically oriented one let’s still
an economically oriented one let’s still go into the market find a solution
go into the market find a solution
go into the market find a solution that’s affordable for just you and then
that’s affordable for just you and then
that’s affordable for just you and then leave the state out of it
leave the state out of it
leave the state out of it that might seem appealing in some ways
that might seem appealing in some ways
that might seem appealing in some ways but I think this arrangement which tries
but I think this arrangement which tries
but I think this arrangement which tries to remove the state’s interest from you
to remove the state’s interest from you
to remove the state’s interest from you and the marketplace is what got us into
and the marketplace is what got us into
and the marketplace is what got us into this mess in the first place so now you
this mess in the first place so now you
this mess in the first place so now you might be thinking okay so what can we
might be thinking okay so what can we
might be thinking okay so what can we offer in its stead what could we do
offer in its stead what could we do
offer in its stead what could we do instead of thinking about housing solely
instead of thinking about housing solely
instead of thinking about housing solely as the commodity or only as a commodity
as the commodity or only as a commodity
as the commodity or only as a commodity logic so one thing I’ve been suggesting
logic so one thing I’ve been suggesting
logic so one thing I’ve been suggesting throughout this presentation is that we
throughout this presentation is that we
throughout this presentation is that we could think about housing as a social
could think about housing as a social
could think about housing as a social right now I’m an English PhD student but
right now I’m an English PhD student but
right now I’m an English PhD student but I’m definitely not naive I know that a
I’m definitely not naive I know that a
I’m definitely not naive I know that a transformation like this would not
transformation like this would not
transformation like this would not happen overnight right real estate is
happen overnight right real estate is
happen overnight right real estate is unbelievably lucrative there’s a lot of
unbelievably lucrative there’s a lot of
unbelievably lucrative there’s a lot of money to be made from it and an investor
money to be made from it and an investor
money to be made from it and an investor or a banker they’re not just gonna say
or a banker they’re not just gonna say
or a banker they’re not just gonna say well housing was a right we didn’t know
well housing was a right we didn’t know
well housing was a right we didn’t know houses for all right that’s not actually
houses for all right that’s not actually
houses for all right that’s not actually gonna happen so nonetheless though I do
gonna happen so nonetheless though I do
gonna happen so nonetheless though I do actually think that there are some
actually think that there are some
actually think that there are some immediate practical implementations that
immediate practical implementations that
immediate practical implementations that we could do by using this idea of
we could do by using this idea of
we could do by using this idea of thinking of housing as a right and it
thinking of housing as a right and it
thinking of housing as a right and it could take many different forms it could
could take many different forms it could
could take many different forms it could take the form of earmarking funds for
take the form of earmarking funds for
take the form of earmarking funds for housing as part of a basic income
housing as part of a basic income
housing as part of a basic income program and as you guys know that’s
program and as you guys know that’s
program and as you guys know that’s something the province of Ontario is
something the province of Ontario is
something the province of Ontario is actually thinking about right now it
actually thinking about right now it
actually thinking about right now it could look like new municipal zoning
could look like new municipal zoning
could look like new municipal zoning laws that place housing in proximity to
laws that place housing in proximity to
laws that place housing in proximity to affordable amenities like grocery stores
affordable amenities like grocery stores
affordable amenities like grocery stores or good schools libraries whatever it
or good schools libraries whatever it
or good schools libraries whatever it could look like subsidies for people who
could look like subsidies for people who
could look like subsidies for people who live in densely populated urban areas my
live in densely populated urban areas my
live in densely populated urban areas my list of ideas could go on and on
list of ideas could go on and on
list of ideas could go on and on and I’m sure you guys have a lot of
and I’m sure you guys have a lot of
and I’m sure you guys have a lot of really good ideas too about what this
really good ideas too about what this
really good ideas too about what this how we could address the issue of
how we could address the issue of
how we could address the issue of housing in a way that’s fair and
housing in a way that’s fair and
housing in a way that’s fair and equitable but I don’t think we can even
equitable but I don’t think we can even
equitable but I don’t think we can even begin to have this conversation unless
begin to have this conversation unless
begin to have this conversation unless we have a robust rights-based language
we have a robust rights-based language
we have a robust rights-based language to talk about housing so some last
to talk about housing so some last
to talk about housing so some last thoughts that I’m gonna leave you with
thoughts that I’m gonna leave you with
thoughts that I’m gonna leave you with before we go off and eat snacks together
before we go off and eat snacks together
before we go off and eat snacks together so if you were someone who lives in a
so if you were someone who lives in a
so if you were someone who lives in a tiny house already or you were thinking
tiny house already or you were thinking
tiny house already or you were thinking of buying a tiny house yes you should do
of buying a tiny house yes you should do
of buying a tiny house yes you should do it there’s absolutely nothing wrong with
it there’s absolutely nothing wrong with
it there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to live in a tiny home I think
wanting to live in a tiny home I think
wanting to live in a tiny home I think it’s just as valid a personal choice as
it’s just as valid a personal choice as
it’s just as valid a personal choice as living in a regular house or renting an
living in a regular house or renting an
living in a regular house or renting an apartment but just like renting an
apartment but just like renting an
apartment but just like renting an apartment is not a socially
apartment is not a socially
apartment is not a socially transformative act purchasing a tiny
transformative act purchasing a tiny
transformative act purchasing a tiny home is also not sufficient to solve our
home is also not sufficient to solve our
home is also not sufficient to solve our crisis of housing as I’ve suggested in
crisis of housing as I’ve suggested in
crisis of housing as I’ve suggested in this presentation I think we need to
this presentation I think we need to
this presentation I think we need to think socially structurally and
think socially structurally and
think socially structurally and politically about the problem of housing
politically about the problem of housing
politically about the problem of housing we need to think bigger than tiny homes
we need to think bigger than tiny homes
we need to think bigger than tiny homes thank you
”
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