Tiny house communities can be among the most sustainable forms of rural living with the smallest environmental footprint and strong social bonds, provided that they are truly self-sustainable, in terms of proper sewage treatment, drinking water, electricity, food supply and work on the land.
Where they are not self-sustainable, their dispersed settlement patterns can add significant burden to our collective infrastructure needs, communal commuting habits and even pose a threat to the environment.
This tension is complicated by the fact that tiny house occupants often have no attractive and affordable housing alternative, given that urban growth has long focussed on expensive, large houses for people from elsewhere.
I believe that we need to both focus on creating more affordable urban housing alternatives AND find ways to legitimise self-sustainable tiny house communities in our district.