Tiny home communities are getting more attention as a tool to help address affordable housing needs, including in an Ohio county that recently designated $1 million for that purpose.
Hamilton County, including the city of Cincinnati, said last month it will conduct a study to decide if it’s feasible to invest the funding in tiny home construction. The housing could be of interest to older residents, people with disabilities, military veterans and people returning to society after incarceration, county commissioners said in a statement.
Tiny homes may offer "a flexible, cost-effective and dignified housing solution for individuals and families who need it most,” said County Commissioner Denise Driehaus.
A tiny house typically is less than 400 square feet and is built on a permanent or moveable foundation, according to the Tiny Home Industry Association.
From the Homes.com blog: What is a tiny house?
The Hamilton County statement does not use the word “homeless” to describe potential candidates for tiny homes, emphasizing the need to provide affordable housing instead. A number of tiny home developments built around the U.S. in recent years require applicants for housing to have been chronically homeless for a period of time, such as one in Austin, Texas, and another in Kansas City, Kansas.
Nonprofit housing advocates often take the lead in building tiny house developments, though some city governments have contributed land or money.
The $1 million for tiny houses was part of a $2 million addition to affordable housing funding that the Hamilton County commissioners agreed to last month. The county’s housing strategy now includes $50 million in committed funds, some of which has been used for home repairs, mortgage assistance and homelessness prevention.
The commissioners plan to determine the next steps after reviewing the results of the feasibility study in the second quarter of 2025, according to the county statement.