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‘Tiny Houses’ – A Big Solution for Retirement Living?
By
Stephen Baetge
Staff Writer
Living
in homes too large for their needs can take an economic, physical
and psychological toll on elderly homeowners. The upkeep on large
homes can be intimidating, and the financial responsibility can be
overwhelming to retirees living on a fixed income.
An increasing number of seniors are now finding “tiny houses” a viable
solution, which makes their lives much less complicated.
Seniors confronted with retirement often find that they no longer have the resources
needed to maintain a large residence once the children have left the home.
Fixed incomes can make mortgages and utility payments an ever-increasing financial
burden, and the physical burden of maintaining large homes can become an unwelcome
strain as people age.
Traditionally, seniors cope by downsizing to apartments or retirement communities.
Others purchase manufactured homes and move into mobile home parks. Some become
nomads traveling in motor homes.
Each of these downsizing options comes with its drawbacks, though. Apartments
and other communal living arrangements lack privacy, and there’s no longer
the pride of home ownership. Manufactured homes require a large cash outlay for
a permanent structure that usually sits on rented land. And many people are simply
not cut out to be nomads.
A popular solution may be found in “tiny houses,” an age-old concept
that is finding increasing acceptance because of its relatively low cost, low
environmental impact and user-friendly design.
While “small” is usually a matter of individual taste and need, the
term “tiny house” is often used to describe homes containing less
than 500 square feet of living space. Other descriptions include micro house,
compact house, mini house, small house or little house.
According to Gregory Paul Johnson, director of Resourcesforlife.com and a co-founder
of the Small House Society, the collective shift towards small house living is
a modern trend.
“Small houses as a movement is pretty recent,” explained Johnson. “It
draws people from many backgrounds who choose it for a variety of reasons that
suit them.”
The Small House Society was created in 2002 as a collaborative venture by Jay
Shafer, Shay Salomon, Nigel Valdez and Johnson. They drew from their collective
experience in housing design, home building, urban planning and organizational
management to create an organization that has become a focal point for the movement.
The Society focuses on all living spaces in general, but finds that attention
usually focuses on the tiny houses. As a result, tiny houses are often associated
with the organization.
There are often misconceptions associated with the small house movement. Some
people think of it as trying to make people live in tiny homes, cramped quarters
or micro spaces similar to the notoriously-small Japanese hotel rooms.
The real purpose, according to Johnson, is to allow people the opportunity to
tailor their living space to suit their needs and their lifestyle. “Homes
can be more ideally made to suit the needs of the individual,” he explained.
Economic conditions, concern about the environment and a desire for simple, more
effective living options are some of the concerns cited by tiny house advocates
as the reason for their choice.
While smaller size equals less expensive and less overhead, it doesn’t
mean cheap. Construction of smaller homes can utilize more efficient, natural,
healthy, high-quality materials that might not be affordable in a larger dwelling.
The result is usually a less-costly home with better features.
Smaller homes require less building materials for construction and smaller land
use, and they usually cost much less to purchase, maintain and reside in.
“The savings are phenomenal,” said Johnson.
According to the Small House Society, the environmental benefit of tiny houses
comes from the fact that people who live in smaller living spaces generally own
fewer possessions, consume less and have lower utility bills. Many tiny houses
are solar powered or use other environmentally-friendly methods of generating
energy.
Some tiny houses are small enough to be built on a trailer, allowing them to
be portable. Power and water can be provided through the same type of system
used by motor homes. They can be made to suit virtually any lifestyle or physical
requirement.
“There really aren’t any drawbacks to small houses,” said Johnson,
whose home occupies less than 200 square feet. He noted that people who are able
to make smaller living spaces work often end up having more time and money for
other areas of life such as family, education, fitness and career.
For further information visit the Small House Society at http://www.resourcesforlife.com.
This page and its contents ©2008
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
