Noosa Council and Youturn partner to build tiny homes on council-owned Tewantin land

A trial involving building tiny homes on council-owned land has been revealed as a new approach to solving the region’s housing availability crisis.

Two “tiny homes” will be built on Noosa Council land in a partnership aimed to help young people sleeping rough.

Youturn Youth Support is partnering with the council to deliver the project to support young people transitioning from crisis accommodation to independent living.

Mayor Clare Stewart said the council was pleased to assist the organisation with land for the tiny homes at Earl Street, Tewantin, between Youturn’s premises and Tait Duke Cottage.

“If successful, the three-year pilot program could become a model for other councils that are facing similar housing issues,” Ms Stewart said.

Youturn raised funds to build the two-bedroom tiny homes.

“This ‘Big Hearts for Tiny Homes’ project is a first for our organisation and one that we are truly passionate about,” Youturn community services general manager Darce Foley said.

Aussie Tiny Houses is building the homes and expect to complete them by late October.

Community Development Officer Kylie Finigan said the project met the council’s social strategy goal of partnering with not-for-profits to find housing solutions.

“Youth are a priority group identified not only within our own Social Strategy, but the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement and the state’s Homelessness to Housing Strategy 2020, so there is a very real need for projects such as this,” she said.

The land was used for the Noosa Community Garden which would be relocated to a larger council plot at Wallace Park.

Ms Stewart said Council was pleased to support tangible solutions to homelessness.

“Tiny homes are one way to tackle the big problem of housing availability. We look forward to seeing how this trial goes as it’s a practical solution we can support today to help at least one vulnerable group with accommodation,” Ms Stewart said.

Council will ratify the arrangements at its meeting on Thursday, September 16.