We might not be able to put them on private property anywhere in the City of Madison, including church or non-profit parking lots, but we can park them in the street! i.e. Camping, Part II. And learn how you can help us make tiny houses a reality!!!
This is the short story (15 minutes or less)
WHAT ARE TINY HOUSES
Find out all about them here (OM Build, OM = Occupy Madison, tons of pictures), here (Occupymadisoninc.com website/blog) or here (Pat Schneider article).
Our version of a tiny house will be about 14 x 7, on a trailer with 2 wheels, weigh about 2,000 lbs, be made by the people who live in them, they will have electricity, a toilet, fridge, microwave, heater, etc. They cost about $2,000 for materials, $1000 for a toilet (sigh, to keep the neighbors happiest and little to no maintenance), and $1500 in overhead as long as we aren’t building them that fast, but I expect the overhead to go down, down, down.
PARK THEM ON THE STREETS?
Yeah, stupid, right! In a bizarre twist of fate, turns out, we can’t park them anywhere on private property, because they would be considered “camping units” and the land owner would get written up for a zoning code violation by the city for allowing “camping” which is illegal anywhere in the city except Lake Farm Park (they were grandfathered in) that has essentially kicked out nearly anyone they can (that appears to be homeless). Instead, we can annoy everyone by parking them anywhere on the city streets where it not metered or otherwise signed for up to 48 hours and then we have to move them. Instead of letting churches host 3 “camping units” where people can plug in to electricity, we have to rely on solar power (another cost – but long term it will save money) and sunny skies.
LONG TERM GOALS
Find a piece of property on a bus line, attempt to get it zoned. Provide parking for about 30 tiny homes with electricity. Build a common building that has a commercial kitchen, meeting and dining space, laundry facilities and showers and flush toilets.
COMMUNITY LIVING
These houses are the beginning of something bigger. We are starting out with people helping to build their own tiny home they will live in. A mini Habitat for Humanity, with sweat equity that goes beyond building the house, after your house is built you continue helping us build furniture and other things made out of pallets. Which we sell to make money to cover overhead so we can build more tiny houses. Eventually, we will have enough of the houses to park them somewhere and people will become part of an eco-village of sorts. Community meals, farming (chickens, bees, veggies), and other projects to help the community be as sustainable as possible. Helping set and follow community rules.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
1. Email your alders and mayor and ask them why people can’t “camp” in the City of Madison. Ask them to fix this. Not just for the boyscouts or overnight sleepovers, but allowing churches and non-profits to host up to 3 tiny houses until property can be found – which also should be allowed to be zoned to make that happen.
2. Donate items!
Exterior grade plywood larger than 8 feet
Dimensional lumber (2×4, 2×6, 2×8)
Metal roofing or siding
Trailer wheels and tires
Closed cell foam insulation
Windows and exterior doors
Hardware to hang doors (hinges, knobs, etc)
Cedar siding
Exterior deck boards (preferably not treated)
Pallets
Paint
Nails
Screws
Tiny microwaves
Small solar panel units
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors
(Please only items in good condition, we are not a dump! And, storage is limited, please contact occupymadisoninc@gmailcom or call in advance 608-616-9826, if you have other donations for the homeless please contact Feeding the State St. Family.)
3. Attend our Fundraiser! Tuesday, July 30th, 4235B Argosy Ct (Our workshop)
4. MATCHING FUNDS!!! Donate now!!! We have a donor that will match all funds up to $4,500 (current cost of a home) for any donations that come in before the fundraiser!!! Donate on-line here (sorry that is our old site, but it will be changed soon!)
Or send a check to:
Center for Community Stewardship
120 South Franklin St.
Madison, WI 53703-3414
or
PO Box 949
Madison, WI 53701
