Portland Wants Residents To Let Homeless Live In Backyards Dec. 14th, 2019
Would YOU let a homeless person live in your backyard? Portland offers residents free tiny homes if they rent it to families who are on the street
Faced with an intractable homeless problem, officials in Portland are thinking inside the box.
A handful of homeless families will soon move into tiny, government-constructed modular units in the backyards of willing homeowners.
Portland officials are looking for four backyards to place its Accessory Dwelling Units, what some people may call a granny flat or a tiny home minus wheels.
Under the pilot program taking effect this summer, the homeowners will take over the heated, fully plumbed tiny houses in five years and can use them for rental income.
The project, called A Place for You, is believed to be the first in the nation to recruit stable residents to address a homeless crisis that‘s gotten so bad the city last year declared a state of emergency and made it legal to sleep on the street.
Article Source Stock Daily Dish
Astoria, Warrenton meet in the middle on housing Dec. 13th, 2019
Astoria and Warrenton are on track to allow a denser, more diverse array of housing in single-family neighborhoods.
A countywide housing study showed a lack of affordable workforce housing. Since then, cities have been trying to diversify the region’s housing stock through code, zoning and other changes in building rules.
Changes have also been driven by the passage of state House Bill 2001, which essentially abandoned single-family zoning in cities with more than 10,000 people to promote the development of duplexes, row houses, cottage clusters, stacked flats and accessory dwelling units where only stand-alone homes were once allowed. The new law also eliminated owner occupancy, parking and minimum lot size requirements for accessory dwelling units. Cities must implement the rules by the end of next year.
The Birth and Evolution of Mobile Dec. 2nd, 2019
At the last Build Small, Live Large Summit in Portland on November 7th, 2019, I made a prediction– the next evolutionary change for ADUs would be mobile ADUs.
As with ADUs regulations today, there are already fledgling examples of incremental regulatory changes occurring with THOWs being allowed as dwellings on residential properties. A very limited set of California jurisdictions have bonafide THOW regulations that define them as a type of ADU, including Fresno, San Louis Obisbo, and Placer County.
Other legislation is happening with THOWs; a statewide legislative bill in Washington even condoned THOW communities in a limited set of circumstances. But, for the purposes of this post, I’m limiting the scope of my inquiry to the legal habitation of mobile ADUs on residential properties.
Taking a different tack on the matter, Portland, OR has “deprioritized enforcement against tiny homes and people sleeping in RVs parked on private property” during a housing emergency, which was declared in October of 2017. The explicit absence of regulatory enforcement is an implicit blessing of using mobile dwellings on residential properties.
Article Source Building An ADU
An accessory dwelling unit conference in Portland pushes the typology forward Nov. 20th, 2019
Build Small Live Large 2019 sessions covered financing and appraising ADUs, as well as strategies for passing state and local ordinances to encourage missing middle housing options. Panels mixed city planners, housing advocates, elected officials, architects, lenders, and developers who delved into the ramifications of the new code and zoning updates and explored housing models on the horizon to be reintroduced into many urban and not so urban regions. As Michelle Glass of the Rogue Action Center stressed, the perception of rural communities, such as those in Eastern Oregon, is that they’re still in the 1950s, but displacement as a result of affordability and accessibility is a very real issue there.
Discussions around single room occupancy housing models, or SROs, highlighted how this once-common housing option has reemerged both as a way to help people transition from homelessness and as an affordable option for nomadic millennials as they move into and out of cities. Panelists also explored how using ADUs and cottage clusters gives the generation on the opposite end of the spectrum, baby boomers, a viable way to age in place or stay in their neighborhoods.
Tiny home motel planned for Warrenton Oct. 7th, 2019
WARRENTON — Lisa and Vernon Lamping are planning a tiny home motel along Harbor Drive.
Tiny Tel would include seven tiny homes on raised foundations surrounding a communal fire pit on a lot the Lampings own near the southeast corner of Harbor Drive and King Avenue.
The units, being made by Tiny Smart House in Albany, are 12 by 28 feet and include sleeping lofts, living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Four will include jacuzzis. One will be especially designed for disabled accessibility. Some will be pet-friendly. The units will be delivered early next year.
Portland conference to focus on tiny homes potential Oct. 6th, 2019
PORTLAND, Ore. – PORTLAND, Ore. – A conference next month will explore how tiny homes can be a big part of life in Oregon. The Build Small Live Large 2019 summit is a biennial event, looking this year at housing affordability.
It comes on the heels of a bill passed in the Oregon Legislature earlier this year saying cities must allow a mix of housing types, referred to as inclusive zoning, rather than the traditional single-family zoning.
Carmel Perez Snyder, director of advocacy and outreach with AARP Oregon, is on a panel delving into the accessibility issue for tiny homes.
Oregon Reach Code: No Longer Applies: Oct 1st, 2019
Hi, Janet-Thank you for the call. On and after October 1, the Reach Code path and the R329 ORSC amendments (temporary rule) are no longer applicable or available. As you correctly pointed out, links to the Reach Code have been removed from our website. Starting October 1st HB 2423 will become effective. Thus, the bill creates the “Small Home Specialty Code” that governs the construction of “small homes” which are defined as not more than 400 square feet in size.
The local building department where the home is to be located is the best resource for any specific local requirements to be discussed. I encourage you to reach the local building officials for specific small home projects and policies.
A copy of HB 2423 can be located on the legislature’s website: Oregon State Legislature
Local building department contact information can be located on the division’s website: Locate A Building Department
I hope this information is helpful.
I’ve copied our technical team for consistent communication purposes.
Francisco Ramos Building Code Specialist|Policy & Technical Services
Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services|Building Codes Division
Office: 503-373-7542 Website
Francisco Ramos-Building Code Specialist-Policy And Technical Services
Article Source Tiny Home Industry Association
Converting construction waste into housing Sept. 27th, 2019
Fourth and Montgomery project team members inspect a building mock-up being converted into a sleeping pod at the Andersen Construction shop on Swan Island. (Courtesy of Julia Mollner)
Construction projects can generate a lot of waste material. So why not reuse some of that material for productive or even humanitarian purposes?
That’s the rationale for a new pilot program being developed by Carleton Hart Architecture team leader Julia Mollner and Portland State University’s Center for Public Interest Design (CPID). Together, they’re looking to convert the interior and exterior mock-ups used for large projects into tiny homes for people without housing.
‘Skoolies’ roll onto the national stage Sept. 25th, 2019
ASHLAND, Ore. — An Ashland activist for those facing homelessness, appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show Wednesday.
Julie Akins began Vehicles for Change in southern Oregon by converting old school buses into fully functioning homes for those living un-housed. The homes, called ‘Skoolies,’ can be parked at RV parks and only cost $18,000 to convert.
Rentable second home tops new garage: Accessory dwellings on the rise Sept. 19th, 2019
Second homes sharing a city lot with an existing house are being created by adding an apartment wing to the original house, carving out space from spare rooms inside the residence or converting an unfinished basement or structurally sound garage into new living quarters with a kitchen sink, stove and shower.
Residential Infill Project Sept. 18th, 2019
In every city around the world, neighborhoods are constantly changing. It’s important we work together as a community to make sure that change is for the better and includes all of us. Our city’s popularity and existing zoning rules have enticed home builders to construct large, expensive new houses at a time when families are getting smaller and more people need a place to live.
To address these issues around growth and change, the City of Portland is taking a fresh look at the rules that govern the types of housing permitted in our neighborhoods.
The Planning and Sustainability Commission voted to recommend that City Council adopt their proposed changes to the zoning code, to increase access to multiple types of housing in all Portland neighborhoods by allowing more units – at lower prices – on each lot, while also reducing the overall size of each building. The recommendations are essential to reach our City goals for compact development and more housing choices including smaller, but still family-sized, units in more neighborhoods. City Council is expected to hold public hearings on the recommendations by fall 2019.
Article Source City Of Portland
Oregon Woman Turns School Buses Into Tiny Homes for Working Homeless Families Sept. 1st, 2019
Akins launched the non-profit Vehicles for Changes about 18 months ago. The first family moved into a converted, tricked-out “Skoolie” about nine months later.
“This is a project that I really think can have an impact,” says Alex Daniell, 57, who has spent years designing and building tiny houses for the homeless in Eugene, Oregon, where he helped develop Opportunity Village and Emerald Village.
Article Source People Magazine
Small House Specialty Code: Oregon HB243 August 28th, 2019
Section 2 Of HB243: Including But Not Limited To Appendix Q
1) As used in this section, “small home” means a single-family residence that is not more than 400 square feet in size. (2) Notwithstanding ORS 455.020 and 455.030, the 2018 International Residential Code, including but not limited to Appendix Q of that code, is adopted as a Small Home Specialty Code applicable to the construction of a small home.
Article Source Tiny Home Industry Association
Related: Jurisdictional Gap Between Two Oregon State Agencies August 26th, 2019
The Oregon DMV, meanwhile, said state law until recently prohibited it from providing titles to park model RVs because they’re not street-legal and aren’t considered a vehicle. The Legislature passed House Bill 2333 to expand the DMV’s responsibilities to include park model RVs, but that law doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1st, 2019.
Tiny home effort gets a big financial boost August 26th, 2019
The group had just learned it was being awarded $67,000 in grant funds to move forward with their project: housing homeless individuals in Albany by building a village of about 25 tiny homes.
Article Source Albany Democrat-Herald
Affordable Housing Push Challenges Single-Family Zoning August 20th, 2019
Earlier this month, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown signed a law that requires most Oregon cities with more than 1,000 residents to allow duplexes in areas previously zoned exclusively for single-family homes. Cities larger than 25,000 also must allow townhouses, triplexes, and fourplexes.
People Looking Into Tiny Houses During Housing Crisis August 18th, 2019
A tiny house neighborhood would consist of residents who own their property and their tiny house. They would be able to garden and landscape their yards to make it feel just like a typical neighborhood. Right now, a lot of individuals who live in tiny houses don’t own the property their house is on, so there is a fear of eviction. Moss said she’s working with the city to come up with a solution.
Gov. Brown signs four housing bills into law on August 8th, 2019
We kicked off the legislative session with a bold housing agenda so that every Oregonian — in communities large and small, urban, and rural — can achieve housing stability. I’m proud today to sign four bills that are a product of that work and partnership across the state.
Article Source The Register-Guard
Oregon mayors tour homeless village August 2nd, 2019
“This is awesome having mayors from 40 different cities here,” said Chad McComas, executive director of Rogue Retreat, the organization that has been the driving force behind Hope Village. For a project that had a hard time getting off the ground a few years ago, the collection of 30 tiny houses has been attracting a lot of attention.
Salem’s United Way looks to tiny homes as market-rate affordable housing July 25th, 2019
Ron Hays, CEO of United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, wanted to house homeless people without government subsidies. A bit of math and a lot of research led to small homes that can rent to seniors for $350 per month.
Group hopes tiny homes can solve a big problem on July 24th, 2019
The two groups came together Tuesday — one to present an idea, the other to offer support — as part of the housing coalition’s effort to build momentum in its quest to construct a village of tiny houses for the homeless.
Article Source Democrat-Herald
ODOT responds to Commissioner Hardesty’s criticism: Boulders are for safety, cost-effective July 19th, 2019
“I’m outraged we’re using public money to displace people we can’t provide housing for,” she said. “ODOT, how about providing some tents, how about tiny houses, how about working with the community to help solve the homeless problem?”
Take a whirl: Portland’s most famous tiny home for rent July 17th, 2019
Portland architect Ben Kaiser sells plans to the tiny, twirling house he designed. Or you can test out the idea at $96 a night.
Driving Policy Webinar: How Oregon Laws Affect Your Business July 11th, 2019
A new law passed in Oregon this year eliminating the RV Code Program and the state’s regulation of RV manufacturing. The law also removes the requirement for PMRV manufacturers in the state of Oregon to use licensed plumbers and licensed electricians to make installations and repairs.
Article Source RV Industry Association
Oregon Passes Key RV Legislation July 3, 2019
Last week, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed into law a bill that eliminates the Department of Consumer and Business Services from regulating RVs. With the enactment of this new law, the need to attach an additional and duplicative Oregon insignia of compliance or seal to RVs is eliminated and Oregon joins the vast majority of states which do not regulate the manufacturing of RVs.
Additionally, the new law removes the requirement for PMRV manufacturers in the state of Oregon to use licensed plumbers and licensed electricians to make installations and repairs. The bill, OR SB 410, takes effect on January 1, 2020.
Tiny Home Background Brief 2018
Oregon Legislature Passes Nation’s First State-wide Ban on Single-Family Zoning in Cities July 1st, 2019
The Oregon Legislature took the dramatic step of passing a bill on the final day of the 2019 session that will require at least duplexes be allowed in city neighborhoods where previously only one home was allowed per lot.
House Bill 2001 applies to cities of at least 10,000 people. For cities of 25,000 or more triplexes and duplexes will also be allowed.
Article Source Williamette Week
Oregon Just Voted To Legalize Duplexes on Almost Every City Lot June 30th, 2019
Oregon legislators took a historic leap toward greener, fairer, less expensive cities Sunday bypassing the first law of its kind in the United States or Canada: A state-level legalization of so-called “missing middle” housing.
Article Source Sightline Institute
Related Article Sightline Institute
The Hiatus is part of a new official subdivision for tiny homes in Oregon April 10th, 2019
This 598-square foot model home is one of the almost two dozen homes that are slated to go up as a part of the tiny house community.
Family of 4 evicted from 272-square-foot tiny home in Bend Feb 4th, 2019
For the last 12 months, their set-up seemed perfect. The Bryants had their small home, a large yard, and a four-bedroom house on the same property. They rented rooms to veterans at affordable rates for Bend.
Then, in mid-January, everything started to fall apart. The family received a letter from Bend’s code enforcement division giving them 10 days to move out of their tiny, 32-foot-long house, which is considered illegal under Bend code. If they didn’t get out in time, they could face fines of up to $750 every day they remained.
Oregon Titling Park Models June 5th, 2019
In 2017, Oregon decided not to allow park models to be titled at the DMV after the Oregon Building Codes Division changed the definition of park models. I am simplifying the story, but it actually turned out to be a mistake. See articles at the end of the blog post for the backstory.
This decision caused an avalanche of problems for consumers, builders, lenders, zoning, and overall anyone involved in this industry in the state, or manufacturers from other states that sold to parties in Oregon.
Article Source Tiny Portable Cedar Cabins
Kenton tiny home village for homeless women gets permanent home April 17th, 2019
The Kenton Women’s Village started in 2017 as an experiment where 14 women who had experienced trauma that made them reluctant to go to homeless shelters would live in 8-by-12-foot “pods” — essentially just large enough for a bed and some belongings.
Cities Hope for Big Benefits From Tiny Houses June 26th, 2018
Many cities have previously discouraged homeowners from building small cottages or apartments on their properties with zoning ordinances that made it nearly impossible to have them in areas designed for single-family homes.
But increasingly, municipalities such as Austin, Texas, Boston, Boulder, Colo., Los Angeles, and Portland, Ore., see these small units as a way to appeal to renters and others on limited budgets who otherwise can be shut out of a city’s more desirable areas. The hope is the units will rent for less than larger single-family homes and allow more people to live within the city limits.
Article Source The Wall Street Journal
Portland To Allow RVs, Tiny Homes On Private Property With Conditions
Commissioner Eudaly said, “Housing is a basic need and a human right. We have failed to keep up with the demand for affordable housing for decades. As the City Commissioner with responsibility for the Bureau of Development Services, which enforces local building codes, I have asked the bureau to deprioritize enforcement against tiny homes and people sleeping in RVs parked on private property effective immediately.” BDS staff will begin work on developing code language to permanently allow tiny homes in conformance with recently passed HB 2737 and will continue to de-prioritize enforcement against sleeping RVs on private property throughout the housing emergency.
Article Source Portland, Oregon.Gov
BCD Issues New RV Construction Rule Feb 3rd, 2017
The changes were developed because of confusion as to when a building is to be considered a temporarily occupied recreational vehicle and when it falls under the requirements of the building code. Many recreational vehicles can be designed to look like a regular house, such as is common with the so-called “Park models.” The rule change will allow the local community to regulate when temporary structures can be occupied and when building permits will be required for those that are deemed to not be temporary.