Low Income Housing Institute partners with Vulcan Inc.
to build 30 tiny houses for Seattle’s homeless
More than 400 employees volunteer in the
region’s largest ever single-day tiny home build
The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) has partnered with Vulcan, Inc. to build and donate 30 tiny houses for homeless families and individuals. The tiny houses will be placed at a new tiny house village site in Seattle’s Central Area. Vulcan Inc., the company that powers Paul G. Allen’s philanthropic and impact work, is hosting Vulcan Converge, an employee day of service on Friday, May 25th. More than 400 employee volunteers will participate in the largest single-day effort to build 30 tiny houses.
“It is impossible to miss the homeless crisis all around us, so I am personally gratified to see so many of our employees volunteering to tackle this project,” said Bill Hilf, Vulcan CEO. “Hundreds of employees from Vulcan, the Seahawks, the Allen Institute, the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and MoPOP will step up to contribute their time and energies to make a contribution toward addressing this problem.”
Vulcan Converge will take place at CenturyLink Field Event Center from 8am to 4pm where Vulcan employees, along with LIHI and contractors from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington, will build 30 tiny houses that are 8’ x 12’, the size of a small bedroom. The tiny homes are more than just four walls – they will be insulated, heated, with windows, porches and locking doors. Construction industry experts, led by nine AGC contractors, will be leading and instructing volunteers onsite.
“Tiny houses save lives. We are grateful to Vulcan, AGC of Washington and our community partners for taking action to address King County’s homelessness crisis. Last year, 169 men and women died from living on the streets. These tiny houses will protect homeless families and individuals who are faced with sleeping in unsheltered and unsafe conditions. Once in a tiny house, our social workers are able to transition people into long-term housing and employment,” said Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director.
When completed, the 30 tiny homes will be moved to a new tiny house village site at 1714 E. Yesler Way, Seattle. The Yesler Tiny House Village is LIHI’s ninth tiny house village and will shelter approximately 60 residents, including families with children, seniors, veterans, singles and people with pets. The village will feature 36 tiny houses with heat and electricity and include showers, laundry, a counseling office and central kitchen facilities.
Vulcan’s partnership with the Low Income Housing Institute to build and donate 30 tiny homes is an example of private, nonprofit and government working together to address the homelessness crisis in our region. The Seattle Human Services Department is providing operating funds for the new village. The AGC contractors include: Lydig Construction, Walsh Construction, Sellen Construction, GLY Construction, Howard S. Wright Construction, Exxel Pacific, Osborne Construction Company, Charter Construction and Lease Crutcher Lewis. Students and faculty from Seattle Vocational Institute, Wood Technology Center, Urban League, and the UW Construction Management program are also lending their expertise.
About Low Income Housing Institute
In operation since 1991, LIHI has a comprehensive and effective approach for reducing homelessness and helping the most vulnerable people in our region achieve stability and self-sufficiency through affordable housing, free hygiene centers (Urban Rest Stops), case management, homeless services, and advocacy. LIHI owns 2,039 affordable apartments in 62 properties across the Puget Sound region. LIHI is managing innovative Tiny House Villages for homeless people that serve over 1,000 people each year. For more information, visit www.LIHI.org .
About Vulcan
Seattle-based Vulcan Inc. is the engine behind philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Paul G. Allen’s network of organizations and initiatives. Empowered by Paul’s vision to make a positive difference in the world, we work to be catalysts for change. We share a commitment to improving our planet through catalytic philanthropy, inspirational experiences, and scientific and technological breakthroughs. As we look at tackling some of the world’s hardest problems, we join Paul in always asking: “What solution should exist that doesn’t?” We are a unique group of professionals – from technologists to biodiversity experts to filmmakers to investors to research scientists to art curators – who thrive in the face of the challenge and opportunity to help solve big problems in unconventional ways.