Video at the link.

[url]http://freakoutnation.com/2013/12/28/homeless-couple-gets-a-home-on-christmas-eve-thanks-to-occupy-project/
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Homeless couple gets a home on Christmas Eve, thanks to ‘Occupy’ project
December 28, 2013
By Anomaly

The Tiny House Project builds homes which are only 98-square-feet, but they are clean, and provide sanctuary for the homeless. Chris Derrick and Betty Ybarra were recipients of this project, and instead of braving Wisconsin’s harsh winter, they will now have shelter thanks to Occupy Madison, an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.

50 volunteers got together, including Ybarra, and created a safe haven. The plan was well thought out, including how to own the tiny house without owning the land it sits on.

Think Progress reports:

In a city where an average home for sale costs nearly $300,000, many low-income individuals simply can’t afford somewhere to live.

Indeed, in January of this year, a citywide count found 831 homeless people living in Madison, a 47 percent increase in the past 3 years. And it’s not just adults; 110 families with children were identified as well.

The “Tiny House Project” began the same month. The plan was for volunteers to build micro-homes that still include living necessities like a bed, insulation, and a toilet. The homes are heated via propane and include a pole-mounted solar panel to power the house’s light. The total cost: $3,000, paid for by private donations.

Rather than building the homes on a particular lot of land — and thus adding another expense — the houses are mounted on trailers which can be legally parked on the street, as long as they’re moved every 48 hours. Parking on the street may not even be necessary after Occupy organizers successfully convinced the Madison Common Council recently to change the city’s zoning laws so the homes could be parked on private property with permission.

Occupy Madison hopes to eventually buy a plot of land and create a tiny village with as many as 30 homes.

This past Tuesday on Christmas Eve, Ybarra and Derrick moved into their new home.

Very cool!