Almost one year after their start, Tiny Homes is making big steps in its fundraising. What started as an idea on how to house the homeless has turned into a community of individuals teaching each other skills, trades, and how to build a life from the ground up.

Allen Barkoff is a carpenter who works with the homeless to build the tiny homes they want to live in.

“Each member must put in 160 hours of service with the organization in order to qualify for a tiny home. After you qualify you have to work at least 500 hours to be the steward of the home,” he said.

The organization now has three homes on sight and two more in the making. The materials are repurposed donations and the furniture is also by donation.

Habitat for Humanity also plays a large role in the recourses that Tiny Homes acquires. The work on the Homes is done completely by volunteers and the people who want the homes.

Right now the biggest concern that is affecting Tiny Homes is funding. On October 30th the group held a silent auction fundraiser at the Brink Lounge where the group collected $380.

One of the great things about the Tiny Homes organization is the atmosphere they create and the openness to new ideas.

“We are constantly upgrading and bringing new ideas into our organization and making updates. We are currently working on a Etsy store as a way to sell our wood working projects online,” said Bruce Wallbaum, the treasurer of the Tiny homes organization. “ We started as an organization concerned with politics and helping Madison homeless and have turned into a learning community.”