Toronto man creates tiny mobile homes to help unhoused people escape the cold

Toronto man builds mobile homes to help homeless people escape the cold

These homes are connected to bicycles and include heating, electricity and safety features

CBC News · December 28, 2024 at 5:23 pm EST | Last updated: December 29, 2024

After seeing homeless people on the streets and sleeping in the cold for years, a Toronto man has designed tiny mobile homes attached to bicycles that serve as temporary shelters for people who are homeless.

Homebuilder Ryan Donis started building his first tiny house this summer, when the city's housing crisis was worsening. He said he didn't want to see another winter of homeless people living on the streets, so he used his construction expertise.

"I don't see any change. People have been out for years and nothing has changed. "I can't imagine being out for years."

Since then, Donis has built three houses, costing about $10,000 each, and most of the costs have been covered through donations to his GoFundMe page.

Each of these houses has facilities such as heating, electricity, running water and even safety features such as smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.

He was also inspired by Khalil Seawright, a carpenter who built wooden shelters during the pandemic. After some time, these shelters were removed by the city as a fire hazard.

Donis said he designed his tiny houses to avoid similar criticisms. Each of these houses is designed to comply with Ontario's e-bike regulations and can easily fit on city streets when mobility is needed.

Tera Sauler is one of those who settled in one of Donis' tiny houses months ago, and after spending three years on the streets, she says, "This house is the safest and warmest place I've experienced since I've been out."

He continues that after burning two tents to stay warm, this house was the best option. Not only does this house keep him warm, but it has allowed him to have something he hasn't had in years: a good night's sleep.

Now, Donis has registered his NGO called "Small Tiny Houses" so that he can build more houses.

Although he is happy to be able to help people like Terra, he hopes that there will never be a need to build these houses again. "It is a disaster that we allow people to sleep outside. "Housing is the solution."

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