By Esther Lauaki
The founder of a Macedon Ranges youth leadership group hopes to solve a big problem with tiny houses.
Paul Kooperman, of Lancefield’s The Field Trip youth group, proposes to address homelessness by getting young people involved in designing tiny houses to shelter people in need.
It is just one of dozens of projects from the Macedon Ranges that have been submitted to the Pick My Project initiative.
Pick My Project is a $30 million online community grants program where Victorians vote for projects that need funding.
“We would like to build a tiny house for someone who needs a home but can’t afford it,” Mr Kooperman said.
Mr Kooperman said he hoped the project would serve as an example to other regions to create more affordable housing for local homeless, students, senior citizens and others who can’t afford their own home.
The tiny house movement, where small architect-designed houses are built on trailer frames, continues to gain popularity promoting simple living.
Kyneton-based Tiny House Australia founder Darren Hughes said he was pleased to be on board with the project.
“This project is something that we can really get involved with by providing designers and registered builders,” Mr Hughes said.
“We’ll be working with the kids to get them as involved as possible.”
Residents can vote on more than 50 projects in Macedon Ranges as part of the Pick My Project initiative. Voting closes at 5pm on Monday, September 17.
Vote: bit.ly/2LiZM2P
