Charleston, SC- Join us in a citizens campaign to open the way to establish villages of Tiny Houses, small affordable dwellings in a planned community context that will liberate our community from the problems caused by a lack of affordable housing and a landscape which is often alienating and dominated by economic considerations above all other values. Over 1000 people in our area live in tents. In December two people died in Tent City Alone. In January a 3 day old newborn come there to live after leaving the hospital.
The Tiny House Fit for a King is nearly finished, and in safekeeping with the City of Charleston. Unfortunately, it’s not available to be worked on and completed. It can’t be occupied until we have the location for a village to be located. Other tiny houses are available, completed now, which could be moved to Charleston’s first Tiny House village. Charleston’s Tiny Houses are locked up and they need to be free to form new, supportive communities to build a stronger, more just city.
Charleston draws tourists from around the world. We have world famous events and festivals like Spoleto. On a good day, it’s a great place to live, a precious island from the redneck disaster which isolates us, like an island from other progressive communities like Asheville, NC and the cool part of Atlanta. However the cost of housing here has soared far beyond what stagnent local wages pay. An enduring myth that it is cheap to live here hasn’t lost it’s cherished places with the region’s rules merely because the cost of living is now 105% of the National Average. White collar wages are 68% of the national average. Blue collar is somewhat higher, probably due to higher job mobility.
This math exerts itself not merely in the rapidly increasing numbers of tents under bridges, but in the slow exile of young and creative citizens from the city. Like Manhattan, Charleston is driving out the people who make it’s magic: musicians, artists, craftspeople, actors and writers. Older creatives, with the power of experience, often move to rural areas so they can find a lower cost of living for their retirement on their modest accumulation of resources. They’re unable to mentor the next generation.
We have veterans, women and many other groups who can’t live in Charleston any longer because you can’t do $1200 a month rent on $8 an hour wages.
Charleston has the power to do better as a community. One tiny house is almost completed. Others are in storage. Materials and the will to build many more stands ready to create new options and opportunities for the homeless, disabled, women, veterans and young creatives.
Monday, Jan. 25, 7 pm, ILA Hall: Charleston Chapter, SC Progressive Network monthly meeting of the Charleston chapter of the SC Progressive Network [postponed from Jan. 18, MLK Day]. Join us to discuss recent activities, plan new ones, and get updates on other social justice actions and events. We'll network with other progressive organizations in our area. (We're working with conservative organizations as well, it's going to be an interesting campaign.)
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 5:30 pm. Charleston County Library Homeless Helpers of Charleston Meeting We'll attend the meeting of Homeless Helpers of Charleston to share information and ideas with the many other organizations working to reduce homelessness in Charleston. At least two organizations want to open Tiny house villages here, but they need a large scale public campaign to remove the barriers keeping people in tents, on couches and in their cars when they could be the proud resident of a tiny home.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5 pm. Charleston City Hall Charleston City Council Meeting Join us at Charleston's historic City Hall where will stand up and speak during the public comment period to ask the leadership of the Holy City to open the way to the creation of tiny house villages. If you like dress like Bob the Builder to help, “get things done!” After the meeting we'll head out to a local bar to discuss our future activities and socialize.
Download a Free the Tiny Houses of Charleston
Communications Director: William Hamilton- wjhamilton29464@gmail.com or (843) 870-5299
More Information: www.facebook.com/...