Cambridge council approves partnership with UW to research tiny homes

A partnership between the City of Cambridge and the University of Waterloo's School of Architecture will research tiny homes as an option to help create affordable and innovative housing solutions in the city. 

Council unanimously approved the $15,000 contribution to support the partnership Tuesday night.

“I think a partnership like this, with an institution like the University of Waterloo's School of Architecture that is located in Cambridge, is a fantastic opportunity to solidify what exactly a tiny home is,” said councillor Scott Hamilton, who moved the motion forward. 

The partnership is in two phases.

Step one looks at the use of tiny homes for emergency-type shelters, while the second step involves constructing a tiny home prototype that could be used by the community as a more affordable and attainable option. 

“By actually building a prototype we can see how much it cost to build a tiny home, and if it's not the solution to affordable housing it's giving us alternate housing,” said councillor Pam Wolf. 

Mayor Kathryn McGarry added tiny homes do give another type of housing dwelling, “and another range of housing style that taken together with all of the other initiatives that are going on in the city and the region that will help to solve our housing crisis.”