Mary Chapman

I am a 4th generation Vermonter and currently work for CSAC on a new project they have invested in called Community Bridges. A brief illustration of my life… My family consist of two incredible daughters, a son in law, and four impetuous and curious grandchildren. While raising my daughters as a single mother, the cost of housing was always issue. When I reflect back, even as a young child, the cost of housing has always been an issue for our family. Buying a home for my daughters and me certainly was never an option. About 4 or 5 years ago I had also become frustrated with the cost of even renting at $700-1000 a month. One day I was searching YouTube and came across a piece on a Tiny House. From that point on I have research, watched and talked about Tiny Homes.

So, 4 years ago I was working making almost $40,000 a year, had a 401K plan, health insurance, and paid time off. Even at $40,000 a year I could not afford to rent my own home. Then three years ago I became sick and eventually ended up on SSD, this was not a choice. Because of the financial hardship I became homeless for 11 months. Why are there some people homeless in this state, this country, and across the world?

I can only say based on what little research that I have done, a Tiny Home is something that I could afford to own. Then there is the huge factor of Tiny Homes reducing our carbon imprint. I guess I have to come to a place in my life where I’d rather spend my time and money on my family, than spend 80 hours working just trying to put a roof over my head. I deserve to have a home just as much as anyone else. So I will continue to fight for my rights as a human being to be able to live in a good home—one that isn't going to cost my life; one that will reduce our carbon imprint for my grandchildren; and one that helps with housing crisis we have in this state, country and world.

Panel:
Tiny Houses—Wedging Open the Conversation About Housing and Community
with John Connell (moderator), Mary Simons + youth journalists of Conversations From the Open Road, Stephen Marshall, Ingrid Pixley, and Mary Chapman
Community Vision Stage, 12:00pm

Tiny Houses are not the end-all-be-all answer to housing, however, tiny houses do wedge open conversations around expanding what we need to do to meet our communities’ growing housing needs. This panel will share personal experiences and efforts in their own communities and those they have visited.