SAN DIEGO — A Normal Heights couple is doing their share to ease San Diego's housing crisis.
In this Zevely Zone, I share 'big news' from a 'tiny home'.
This story is a feel-good follow-up about a Normal Heights couple who decided their backyard should not just be about relaxing but sharing.
In March we showed you how Urban Corps members started with a trailer and built a tiny home from the ground up. "I'm so excited," said homeowner Ellen Stone who paid for the tiny home to be built with her husband Greg. The tiny home is complete and now placed in their backyard for a student to live in. To make room in their backyard was truly selfless. "We have a great sized lot. Everything lined up. Yeah, it really did," said Ellen and Greg.
When Ellen and Greg got married, their friends and family members gave them money to buy a tiny home. They no longer needed that money. "Because we found a house, we are now making this for someone else," said Ellen.
Urban Corps of San Diego County provides paid job training and a chance to earn a high school diploma.
When Ellen and Greg heard about Urban Corp's student Abdul Mobin Safi's story, they offered to help him. The nineteen-year-old had to flee Afghanistan two years ago, so they offered him a home. "I was so excited," said Safi. For nine months, Safi will live in the tiny home for just two hundred dollars a month. "Well, it's very kind," said Safi. "If I get somewhere, if I can help someone, I will give them this feeling that I have right now."
"This is something that can help our Corps members with their housing," said Kyle Kennedy.
He is the CEO of Urban Corps of San Diego County. Kennedy says if you're a homeowner who wants to help, Urban Corps will pay for the materials and build a tiny home to put in your backyard for a student.
"All a homeowner has to do is say I have room in my backyard I am willing for you to put a house there," said Kennedy.
"We really had the right partners and that really makes it work," said Greg and Ellen. As for Safi, he learned how to speak English and loves to read. Ellen and Greg say he's a wonderfully quiet tenant. At 170 square feet, Safi's house may be tiny but he's dreaming big and wants to be a business owner. "A business owner. There is money in my mind," said Safi. This American dream-in-the-making graduates next year.
Young adults in Urban Corps may have dropped out of high school due to involvement with gangs or drugs, becoming a young parent, or an undiagnosed learning disability. Some are refugees with limited English or aged out of the foster system without a diploma. A growing number are homeless. On average 90 percent of graduates are either placed in jobs following commencement or are enrolled in higher education.
If you're interested in the Tiny Home program with Urban Corps click here.