Housing

A huge, growing trend in the last decade has been the 'tiny 

home movement,' which arose due to a number of factors.

Affordable housing continues to dwindle, even as wages remain

stagnant. This has led to an epidemic of homelessness in the U.S.

 (and around the world.) Lack of available housing led many

to seek alternatives to traditional (or standardized) ideas 

about dwelling spaces. But it's more than just price reduction.

Americans are increasingly becoming disinterested in the

trap of consumerism, and seek to simplify their lives by 

reducing the number of their possessions. Having a much

smaller space in which to store 'Things' makes that goal

infinitely easier to achieve.

Out of necessity, folks without the means to jump into a full-scale

tiny-home had been finding themselves living in metal buildings,

sales of which had gone up as more and more were becoming

emboldened to take to that lifestyle. Needless to say, in our 

prestige-obsessed society, living in metal buildings was not as 

warmly-received by the media or the general public as folks

living in adorable, custom-built, trend-following homes.

There was definitely a stigma attached to people who were

'living in their shed/garage.' Baby steps.

As people become more comfortable with bucking the

traditional, limited way of approaching life, not only does

a particular trend gain steam but it also opens the doors to

other progressive ideas. We are--and will be--seeing all kinds

of innovation in our housing realities. It all starts with 

opening our minds to new housing concepts.

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