I am of two minds about this, and I might be stretching it. I think it is a 100% good idea, with only a smitch of WTF.
Let's start with the good.
In Colorado Springs, teachers are being priced out of the district where they teach. This is a common enough issue that it has happened before in Palo Alto, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and more. In these four cities, public workers were able to live until housing prices rose to the point they couldn't afford them.
It isn't just teachers, it is policemen, firemen, and others that can no longer afford to live in the communities they work in.
So, Colorado Springs is collaborating with a company to build a tiny home village for teachers. It will be a quaint area with individual homes, each about 325 sq. feet. They will have a bedroom, a full kitchen, a living area, and a bathroom. Additionally, the "village" will feature walking paths, raised gardening beds, and a communal kitchen/event space.
The homes will be built on a soccer field on campus. And about 75% of the teachers are interested in living there (there will be fewer homes than that). Here are some images:
BUT...
Here is my problem. I agree with the solution, but this should not be a problem.
Why can't we pay teachers enough to live on? Sure, the tiny home option is excellent for these people, but why is it a problem to begin with? I don't have kids, but I would like enough money to be paid (yes, from my taxes) to those who will shape the next generation.
I know I am a progressive snowflake who wants to bring socialism to America for saying this, but... We are a rich country. Instead of subsidizing Exxon and Shell, why can't we pay teachers more?
FFS
These tiny homes suffice for a single person but many teachers have spouses and/or children. These houses won't work for them and perhaps they especially need better wages or another solution.
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