Tiny homes, big dreams: How some activists are reimagining shelter for the homeless
“‘The city was solving a political problem, first and foremost,’ said Brenda Konkel, president of Occupy Madison and executive director of Madison Area Care for the Homeless OneHealth. The so-called sheltered encampment cost about $1 million to set up and will run about $800,000 to $900,000 a year to operate.
Buster the dog sits by a window in the community building of an Occupy Madison tiny home village in Madison, Wisconsin, in December, 2021. Unlike many homeless shelters, this community allows pets.
City Community Development Director Jim O’Keefe said housing people in a traditional shelter would be significantly cheaper in the short term. But tiny-home villages can often serve those who are either unwilling or unable to stay in a congregate setting, because they have pets or partners, have severe emotional or psychological issues, or are banned from the shelter system.”