Homeowners, city leaders and business owners push for more tiny housing in Raleigh

Homeowners, city leaders, and business owners met Wednesday night to push the agenda to increase the supply of tiny housing in Raleigh.

Many are trying to develop ways to boost construction for these homes, which range from 450-800 square feet.

Raleigh resident like Kara Sanders, who can envision themselves living in homes like this, says these homes are a temporary solution to a bigger matter.

"I think they are for a certain type of person," said Sanders. "Like if it's a single person."

Sanders came to the event to consider all options when it came to addressing her current living situation.

"We decided to be living out of our car," Sanders said. "We had been gifted a few weeks before that; that's what made the decision to make that move."

She joined more than 100 people at an event called Raleigh Pitchfest.

Homeowners and city leaders heard pitches from innovative business owners to learn how building more tiny homes could help the affordable housing situation.

"This is an affordable way to build affordable housing and to give people choices," said Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin, City of Raleigh.

Baldwin said people would pay more when asked about benefits or drawbacks for property owners.

"It increases value-people will pay more in property tax but on the other hand," said Baldwin. "People can provide affordable places for people to live.'

Shaun Smith is with one of the organizations that pitched the idea of building more of these homes around the city.

Their goal-four this year and one per month next year.

"The benefit of what we're doing is that they can reach out to us; we'll put the unit there," said Shaun Smith, CollabADU. "They don't lift a finger."

With people like Sanders looking for shelter, she questions if tiny homes will fulfill big dreams.

"They have so many stipulations, only this type, and there's so much red tape to go through," Sanders said.

Earlier this year, the city did implement its fast-track program to build these tiny homes.

Certain rules exist for these tiny homes, such as building in specific zoning districts and meeting size requirements.