More tiny homes, Conestoga Huts may be coming to Olympia

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- While Seattle struggles with its homeless crisis, Olympia is moving ahead with more solutions.

A church is getting ready to apply to host a few tiny homes based on the model of Eugene, Oregon, and their Conestoga Huts.

Olympia just opened a city-run tiny house complex called Plum Street Village in February, which is now home to 40 people who've experienced homelessness.

They opted to go with the wooden tiny homes rather than the Conestoga Huts.

"Hello, I'm Trayten Sulcer, this is my house, my tiny home."

Before Plum Street Village, Trayten had been living in a tent.

Now he has a roof over his head and counseling, which has led him to part time jobs and schooling. "I have plenty of room, yes. It is very comfortable for one person."

Now an organization of churches called the Faith Alliance Initiative for Tiny Houses (FAITH) wants to put eight tiny homes, hosted by Westminster Presbyterian Church, where gardens now sit.

Rev. Tammy Stampfli of The United Churches of Olympia said, "Westminster has been a wonderful partner over the years."

It is a faith community concept based on what they witnessed in Eugene.

"Eugene is really the model that we chose for the best way to deal with tiny houses in the Pacific Northwest," Peter Cook of FAITH said.

In Eugene they have gone with Conestoga Huts designed by Erik de Buhr based on the Conestoga Wagon. "I think it's headed as a Pacific Northwest regional approach to temporary shelter," he said.

"Their Conestoga Hut is different from these houses," Cook said. "But in my mind it's just as good as a tiny house, they call it a micro shelter."

The faith-based group says as more and more churches want to become hosts to tiny homes, they can chose between the wooden home and the Conestoga Huts.

"If it's a hut or a tiny house, a house is a house for somebody and it just makes a difference for them," said Plum Street Village case manager Jovita Fenwick.

"It's going great so far," Treyton said.

"This place has brought new life, new light and I'm moving forward," said Debowrah Micah-Kole who lives at Plum Street Village.

Walter Miller found a full-time job and a safe place to sleep at night after living for a time in a tent.

"If you want to take that next step to do something, yes it is important," said Miller. "If you're not trying to take the next step it's not important."

Westminster Presbyterian is planning on applying to the city for their tiny homes approval in the next couple of weeks. Then come public hearings.

They hope to have the homes ready by Sept. 1.