Inside a tiny home village where rent starts at $500 a month - it comes with one bedroom and is the first of its kind

A VILLAGE of tiny homes has opened - four of the six homes have already filled with new residents.

The group of small homes is a permanent solution for the housing crisis in California - they're the first tiny homes of their kind in the community.

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Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT) developed the village of tiny homes.

CHAT, a northern California volunteer group, says they aim to provide "affordable rental housing for people who are without housing."

Hope Village is a collaborative effort between CHAT and local developer Slater & Sons to help people currently experiencing homelessness.

Local organizations are selecting the six residents who will move into the homes - four will move in on June 16.

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CHAT members hope the village inspires other localities to create more permanent housing solutions.

"I want cities, I want counties, I want the state to just think of alternatives to create solutions," Nicole Drummond, CHAT's executive director, said to KRCRTV.

"You know, we can't all afford market value, either rent or buying, and it creates a problem that seems unsolvable, but when we get creative, and we have beautiful small, affordable places like this then we can not only house people that are unhoused but we can prevent a lot of homelessness."

The residents must pay $500 a month for the small homes - various local churches will pitch in $250 a month for each resident in need.

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The tiny homes offer a prototype for other tiny home communities.

INSIDE THE TINY HOMES

The homes have a slightly pitched roof with solar panels on the top.

Tan siding wraps around the one-story building with white traditional-style windows.

A gravel yard with clean, light-colored sidewalks highlight the exterior's simple design.

Each home has a washer, dryer, kitchen, and bathroom.

The kitchen - complete with a refrigerator, stove, microwave, and deep sink - has plenty of storage.

The bathroom also features a full-sized shower.

The homes also provide personal services to members of the communities who are just moving in.

"We have volunteers in all of our houses to help be that friend, that community bridge... take people to coffee, listen and [be] connected with social services," Drummond said.

Interest in tiny homes has peaked as the cost of living crisis continued to compound on homeowners.

TINY HOME, BIG SOLUTION

Owners of tiny homes report spending less than the average American renter.

According to Realtor, the average American pays $2,000 or more monthly for rent.

Tiny home owners report spending less than the average month on their overall monthly bills.

One couple on TikTok said they spent $7,000 on a shed - they spend bargain-basement prices to keep their home cozy.

Another content creator renovated a used shed into a tiny home - she said the spent just $40,000.

The U.S. Sun reports on a number of tiny homes - here is a tiny home kit for under $10,000.

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Also, homeowners may want this bargain at Walmart before the summer season swelters.