One of several tiny homes in Moccasin Flats

By Tommy Osborne

Tiny homes

Tiny home project prepares to restart after short hiatus

Feb 15, 2024 | 4:54 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The tiny homes project in Moccasin Flats took a short break, but that doesn’t mean the volunteers weren’t busy during the time off.

“We’ve been talking to all levels of government. We had city council bring a five recommendation letter and send it to intergovernmental groups and B.C. housing. So now we are just waiting to hear back so that hopefully we can work with these organizations,” said volunteer community advocate Philip Frederiksson.

With plans to continue building the temporary emergency shelters again tomorrow, Frederiksson is looking forward to getting back to work, but stressed the need for more volunteers to help with the workload. However, the workload isn’t the only way volunteers can help, as getting the community involved and bringing people together is perhaps equally as beneficial, if not more so.

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“What we noticed is the presence of the community down here in the encampment changed the nature of everything. People’s attitudes were better, more cheerful, more happy. I did notice a decrease in substance use and then more inclusion. Once the community gets involved with a project like this, we all get to know each other, we get to share our values, we get to lift people up,” Frederiksson said.

Whether it’s the volunteers putting the work in on the ground level, or the federal government’s recent report on encampments, many facets of the community have been getting involved in the housing and homelessness crisis. If you want to get involved with the project but aren’t too confident in building homes alongside other volunteers, there are other opportunities to help out too. Whether it’s cooking and serving meals, connecting the group with other people and non-profits, or even something as simple as a financial donation to the gofundme, there are many ways you could help. Even just the act of being there means a lot too.

“I know it’s (Moccasin Flats) not the most glamorous or what we would like to have in our backyards, but because it is in your backyard, taking the initiative to come down and get to know the people and just just share with your community … I have noticed that with the presence of people down here, people’s attitudes are changing, and I just want to keep pushing that,” Frederiksson said.

You can learn more about the tiny home project on the Facebook page End Homelessness Canada, where you can also reach out if you are interested in joining the volunteer-led effort.

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