Student's killer on parole
Charges after investigation
Hostage was on captor 
Regulating power prices
Gen X is raking it in
LeBlanc laying groundwork
US vetoes UN resolution
$100M Nassar settlement
12 Trump jurors picked
Rates slow green economy
Vicinity hires president,
Record housing starts
Warriors ready for Round 2
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled
Rockets live to fight on
Rihanna's parenting ‘hack’
Tarantino scraps film
Munn talks cancer battle
A tiny idea is getting a big response.
Earlier this year, the Vernon First Nations Friendship Centre put the word out they were looking for designs of a tiny house – around 250 square feet – that it will raffle off to build more tiny houses in a bid to help at-risk youth.
Barry McDougall, youth programs manager, said nine firms submitted designs and on Wednesday a panel of judges were deciding on the best one for the raffle home.
“I've had major companies call me; the city has called me. It is getting a lot of attention,” said McDougall. “People are calling and asking 'When can I swing a hammer?'”
The idea for the design contest was to come up with a high-end tiny house that will be raffled off this summer. That money will go toward the construction of up to 20, more basic tiny houses.
Olav Felgendreher, of Pacific Timberworks, Chris Dranchuk of BTR Construction and Wilf Lunde of Lunde Architect Ltd. were brought in as judges. The winner is expected to be announced next week. McDougall said they are looking for a location to build the raffle house and are currently in talks with the Alan Brooks Nature Centre.
McDougall expects construction of the tiny home – which will take four to six weeks – will begin in May. The sale of raffle tickets will coincide with the building of the home with the draw planned for mid-September.
The raffle tiny house will be worth around $50,000.
The centre will then send out a call for design plans for more basic homes.
McDougall envisions a small Vernon co-housing community made up of 20 tiny homes, providing housing for youth ages 19-29 facing barriers to affordable housing, with a low income and at risk of being homeless.
The co-housing facility would feature a common kitchen and recreation area. Scandinavian countries have used such a model since the early '60s. It is also similar to the community heritage and principals of Aboriginal colonies historically.
The FNFCS can be reached at 250-306-3275, or email [email protected], or [email protected].
