By Laura Guido
Whidbey News Group
LANGLEY — An idea for a tiny-house development is starting with a regular-sized home.
A South Whidbey nonprofit recently purchased a residence on Camano Avenue in Langley in support of its effort to provide more affordable housing on the island.
Tiny Houses in the Name of Christ, or THINC, draws board members from seven local churches. It has raised enough money to purchase the two-bedroom home and one-third of an acre in Langley in October.
However, the nonprofit is far from meeting its goal to create at least six tiny homes on the lot behind the house, according to Coyla Shepard, its founder.
She said the group hopes to move in a low-income family into the upstairs portion of the house, and the daylight basement will be used as a community space for the eventual tiny-home residents.
The house isn’t quite ready for move-in — it needs insulation, a new heating system, its floor refinished, new siding and a sewer connection, Shepard said.
“But we have a place where we can start,” she said.
Repairs on the roof are under way. All of the needed work is estimated to cost around $40,000.
Shepard said she’s spoken with business owners who lament their inability to find workers because of the lack of housing availability and affordability.
Jenn Jurriaans, one of the owners of Prima Bistro and Saltwater Fish House & Oyster Bar, said she’s noticed her employees struggle to find housing.
“It’s gotten worse and worse,” Jurriaans wrote in an email, “close to a crisis for many.”
Matt Nichols, vice president of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, said it’s also been an issue for his staff.
“There just isn’t anything on South Whidbey and I don’t think any on Whidbey,” Nichols said.
A housing needs analysis performed by Island County found that 50 percent of renters in the county were cost-burdened, defined as spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
Shepard said once the nonprofit’s units are up and running, rent will be charged on a sliding scale. She said THINC will work with the county Housing Support Center, the House of Hope, the Whidbey Homeless Coalition and the school district to identify potential residents.
There will be reference checks, quiet hours and likely an on-site manager.
“We hope to fit in really nicely with the neighbors,” Shepard said.
She said the meeting space in the basement would be vital, and the group plans to add a large kitchen for the tiny-home dwellers.
The organization hopes to reduce the expected total of $40,000 by receiving donations of goods and services or by attracting volunteers. To help keep costs relatively low, Hanson’s Building Supply has provided all the building materials at cost.
The nonprofit also recently asked the city of Langley to waive or reduce its sewer connection fee.
To learn more about THINC, go to thincwhidbey.org.
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