Working poor suggest tiny homes to meet affordable housing demand

47 ABC – In Sussex County, the working poor are speaking out in hopes of bringing to light an issue that hundreds are facing, affordable housing.

Jim Martin, an advocate for the homeless in Sussex county, says there’s essentially no affordable housing for people just trying to make ends meet.

Which is why many are having to turn to homeless shelters for food and a roof over their heads. One working homeless man in Milford says it’s nearly impossible to find a place to live.

“Housing is hard out here right now. There’s no apartments that are accepting any one for housing unless you’re a woman with kids or you’re handicapped and there’s a whole lot of men out here like me who are working everyday and doesn’t have anywhere to stay,” explains Rouchon Vann, as working shelter resident.

Vann stays at Code Purple shelters during the winter months but says tiny homes could be a perfect solution to the problem because it’s a place he could afford.

That’s why Jim Martin is asking Sussex County Council to make it legal for tiny homes to be built because right now it’s illegal. Martin believes it’s the American Dream but scaled back.

“I would like the council to make it legal so then it would empower the people in Sussex County to actually do something about their housing problem.”

Martin says he plans to speak in front of the Sussex County Council every Tuesday at their meetings until something is done so people like Rouchon can find a place to live that they can afford.

The next Sussex County Council meeting will be held Tuesday, March 12 at the Council Chambers in Georgetown.