Minimalism as a new way of life for Canadians

The city of Kingston, Ontario has been struggling with a housing crisis for quite some time, and city officials are trying different ways to solve the problem. One of them is the construction of minimalist housing, or simply put, tiny houses. This concept of urban development is still relatively new, but over the past decade it has already gained some popularity.

"Tiny houses, are a more minimalist way of living. It's usually a small house, similar to a studio apartment," explains Mayor Paterson.

The Kingston administration may team up with Habitat for Humanity, a construction company, to launch a minimalist development pilot project. In a proposal that will come before council next week, the city is considering giving a piece of land next to the Rideau Heights Community Center to Habitat, which would build several tiny houses on the site.

"The company will use donated materials and labour to build eight tiny houses. These houses will be sold at reduced prices, which means that people who can't afford to pay the full market price of a large house will be able to purchase something similar," Paterson assured.

The target demographic for the proposed development has not yet been outlined, but Habitat for Humanity projects are always focused on low-income people. As Habitat for Humanity CEO Katie Boroweck notes, "What we've talked about so far is ... trying to help get people off the waiting list for social housing. Because the list is much longer now than it was before the pandemic."

Although this pilot project involves the construction of only eight residential homes, even one such tiny house can make a big difference:

"Every house built helps if it is built at an affordable price. Now the houses will be small, measuring just 28-46.5m². But as their construction expands, the mini houses will also acquire new designs. Some of the houses are stapled together and some stand alone," Borovec added.

The development proposal will go before Kingston City Council on Tuesday; then, once approved, Habitat for Humanity will begin the construction process.