User talk:Kmak16/sandbox

Benefits of the tiny house movement
Because the homes associated with the tiny house movement are so much smaller than the average house, the materials and land that are required to construct a tiny home are significantly less than the cost of producing larger homes. If a tiny home is built to a higher quality, the cost to heat, cool, and maintain the space is a lot less. The homes in this movement also require fewer resources when it comes to the construction of them, along with the maintenance as well. A major benefit that comes with choosing the tiny home lifestyle is the sense of community that can be built among them. Although, not every tiny home is built for a sense of community, many are also built to escape from the hectic lifestyle the individual may be living. The tiny homes that are built in communities, are referred to as tiny house villages. These villages are based strongly on “community-minded” residents. On the other side of the spectrum, tiny homes are also built in rural areas for the utmost feeling of privacy. When it comes to choosing to become part of the tiny house movement it really comes with a significant amount of choice. Since there are so many options based on community, location, and even personal options it gives individuals a sense of control.

Control and ownership potential plays a major role in the tiny house movement. Since tiny homes cost significantly less than larger homes and can be purchased as is rather than pay for the land as well, it makes owning a home possible for many who otherwise could not own one at a higher cost. Over the past few years in the United States there have been some key events that sparked a new interest in the movement. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated thousands of people along the Gulf Coast, and again in 2007-2008 the economy came to a fall during a financial crisis in the United States. These two events bring to attention the reasons why individuals were starting to become part of the tiny house movement. After Hurricane Katrina many families were left with no homes and most of their possessions were lost. When faced with a crisis like this, many of these people began to choose the tiny home lifestyle. Owning a home after this natural disaster brought back a sense of community that was lost during the hurricane. During the time of the economic crisis that struck the United States, the tiny house movement brought back a sense of control and possession after so many lost huge parts of their life in the financial crisis. During times when the world was struggling, and still is, tiny homes are a great way to bring back a sense of normalcy to lives.

General references

 * Bates, Christopher G., and James Ciment. "Housing Costs, Finance, and Affordability." Global Social Issues: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2013. 427-32. Print.
 * Christensen, Karen. "Home Ecology." Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability. Ecosystem Management and Sustainability ed. Vol. 5. Great Barrington, MA: Berkshire Pub. Group, 2010. 176-83. Print.
 * Greenspan, Elizabeth. "Are Micro-Apartments a Good Solution to the Affordable-Housing Crisis? - The New Yorker." The New Yorker. N.p., 02 Mar. 2016. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
 * Mears, Teresa. "Could You Survive in 150 Square Feet? The Lowdown on Tiny Homes." US News RSS. U.S News: World Report, 18 June 2015. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.
 * Wyatt, Anne. “Tiny Houses: Niche Or Noteworthy?.” Planning 82.2 (2016): 39-42. Business Source Complete. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.