Tiny homes—big movement: building a permanent and affordable housing option for people with severe mental illness

The THV built 15 tiny homes through a public/private cross-sector partnership consisting of a private non-profit organization, a university, a community mental health center, and construction companies. All 15 homes have the same floor plan and were constructed at the same time using a Blitz Build model in 90 business days at a cost of approximately $50,000 per home. Each home is built on a permanent foundation, and includes 416 square feet of interior, heated space and five living spaces: a full bathroom, a bedroom, an open-concept kitchen and living room, and a covered front porch that provides an additional 96 square feet of unheated space. The tiny homes are located within a village that offers several amenities and a range of community-based services. This community case study demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships to tackle some of our most complex and entrenched social problems while also providing a blueprint for how to expand the affordable housing options for people with severe mental illness.