TUR Mini Magazine Community Heroes Summer Edition | Page 6

A Huge “TINY” Difference!
By:  Rita Gruber

E

veryone has a story. That
story can be about how
they survived substance
abuse, a car accident, a difficult relationship or even homelessness. In the United States alone, 3.5
million people experience homelessness each year. In Madison, Wisconsin, 831 people are declared
homeless and one non-­profit organization is trying to help these individuals by bringing light to a very dark
situation.
OM Build or Occupy Madison, is
reaching out to the homeless population by assisting individuals in transitioning back into the community.
They want to provide a stable living
environment and they want to make
a difference in hopes of changing
the lives of each person, one by one.

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| Community Heroes

As an organization, OM Build went
into the community and tried to
find a way for the homeless to survive during sometimes harsh weather and living conditions. They researched campgrounds and private
lots, but the County made it difficult for them to find a stable environment that would allow them to
give the homeless population security and a fresh start.

Trying to find a positive direction
to go, “tiny houses,” were created
in hopes of providing safe living
conditions. These small homes
can be moved, parked, and even
lived in. Each unit is roughly
about 98 square feet and has a
cathedral ceiling. It takes approximately 2 months to collect the
money, and obtain the resources
to build one.

IN THE UNITED STATES
ALONE, 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS
EACH YEAR.
The Urban Release