LIFTING THE COMMUNITY UP
TINY COMMUNITY LIVING
In early 2020, a friend reached out and asked if I could offer our land for a friend to park her caravan. While visiting from Western Australia, Darlene w found herself trapped when WA closed their borders. Of course, I said yes, and Darlene settled into her new ‘temporary’ home while we all navigated the pandemic and the lengthy border closures.
Darlene set up her caravan, helped maintain the land and even started to build a couple of food gardens.
Then we get a call from a council compliance officer because they had received a complaint from a neighbour about Darlene living in her caravan. We learned that you could not live in a caravan on the Sunshine Coast for more than 4 weeks in a 52-week period without a permit.
We asked for compassion considering the incredible circumstances, we were in lock down, and Darlene could not return to WA. Our pleas were ignored, and Darlene was asked to leave. But where could she go, so with some creative thinking, Darlene stayed. She continued to live on the property until the borders opens without her caravan.
This was the beginning of a campaign to advocate for change to allow people who choose to live permanently in caravans, buses and tiny homes with wheels to have some certainty and security.
Local governments across Australia view caravans, buses and tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) as temporary accommodations and come under the control of a Local Law. Each local law prohibits these types of housing for a limited period of time without a permit, usually anywhere from 4 weeks to 1/2 months. With a permit, the time period can be extended to 18 months.
There are a growing number of people using these types of housing on a permanent basis. Permanent housing is managed in the town plan, but because local governments view them as temporary, regardless of how they are used, they are managed with a local law. The permit process is not fit for purpose when they are used as permanent housing.
Non-Traditional Housing
Due to the housing crisis, the housing landscape has changed. A growing community of Sunshine Coast residents are choosing different and diverse housing solutions that need their financial, social and environmental needs.
If we as a community are committed to providing inclusive and diverse housing solutions as a way to prevent homelessness, then we need to understand better why people are making alternative housing choices.
- Affordability – they know they will never be able to purchase a typical house on land.
- Low Environmental Footprint – they are conscious of the effects of climate change and wish to reduce their personal impact on the environment.
- Connection to Nature – Many don’t want to live in the suburbs; they want to live with nature, having space away from the stressful world while being nurtured by the natural world.
- Transportability – many want the freedom to move as their needs change; family, work, health etc
- Accessibility – it is easier to secure these types of housing than a rental, particularly in this current rental crisis.
- Community – the people choosing this type of housing as a permanent choice also wish to live with others and build a sense of community. Sharing growing food, helping with family and providing strong social connections that build social capital, experience inter-generation living, creating individual and community resilience. Many landowners are interested in using their land for community living and growing social enterprises that benefit the community.
- Age in Place – many rural landowners are asset-rich and cash poor. They would like to stay on their property as they age and would like to invite families to share their land. Not only do they get help, but they also have their land cared for while building social connections that reduce social isolation and contribute to their well-being. These types of housing allow them to move while keeping their homes as and when required. Communities are looking for policies that support their desire to live-in age-friendly environments in inclusive communities so they can feel safe and live active healthy lives.
YARN & YIELD
When Helen and her husband purchased a property in West Woombye, they intended to use it for community benefit. People kept asking what community benefit meant, and we did not have the answer. We were waiting for the right people to show up with the right energy and values to work together to create community benefit.
Yarn and Yield is a community-led regenerative project starting with regenerative farming using syntropic and permaculture principles. The land was previously used to grow food with some established fruit trees still providing beautiful fruit. New gardens will be created, more fruit trees will be planted, and food will be grown and harvested with the community for the community.
Building on regenerative farming, the project will expand as the community creates and delivers more regenerative projects, events, and workshops.
In time, the land will be converted to a Community Land Trust, so the regenerative projects can continue to grow and deliver community benefit.
