SPAAR visits Settled to learn about tiny home communities to help end homelessness

Nearly two dozen SPAAR members and staff gathered in Maplewood on March 5 to learn about Settled, the nonprofit behind Sacred Settlements, which works to house people who’ve been chronically homeless – one year or longer – by creating tiny home communities in partnership with area churches.

During the visit, the group toured several of the tiny homes and heard from Jaime, a Settled volunteer, who explained how the model supports residents as they work to regain stability and move forward in their lives through a combination of housing and strong community support. She shared how this innovative effort focuses on providing both stable housing and a supportive community.

The homes themselves are built to house one to two individuals and are built on a trailer base that’s anchored. The tiny home communities follow RV guidelines that are more flexible than single family homes, allowing the process to be more timely and easier to implement.

For some of the residents, the opportunity to live in a Settled tiny home is the first time they’ve experienced a sense of community. The communities, which are designed to be volunteer-driven, offer a foundation for residents who may face challenges such as traumatic brain injury or mental health diagnosis. Each of the Settled communities, which are part of various churches throughout the Twin Cities and beyond, create their own rules and guidelines.

Learn more about Settled, including ways to volunteer or donate.

To get more involved with SPAAR’s Housing Affordability Task Force—the group that coordinated this event—contact SPAAR Government Affairs Director Simon Opatz at sopatz@spaar.com.