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Tenants Get Keys To Tiny "Forever" Homes

A dream of affordable housing came true in Eugene Friday. Emerald Village, a tiny house community, held an open house.  Some new residents received their keys.

People gathered around as Dan Bryant with SquareOne Villages handed out keys to the small abodes.
Bryant: “Here’s the key!”
Gentry: “Thank you very very much.”
Alice Gentry says she found herself homeless at age 64.
“I didn’t think I would ever have a solid building again. I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life either in my car or in a tent in the woods, cause I’ve done both.”
Gentry been in transitional housing at Opportunity Village. On affixed income, she says she’s grateful to have a forever home.
“I can’t even begin to describe the joy I’m feeling and the, I’m still like, Is it real? I’ll know it’s real the first night I sleep in it!”
Gentry’s 180-square foot house includes a kitchenette, sleeping space and a bathroom. Emerald Village’s 22 tiny houses were built with volunteer labor from local architects, builders and future tenants. Rent is between $250 and $350.

Credit Rachael McDonald
Sam and Gillian get keys to their tiny house.

Rachael McDonald is KLCC’s host for All Things Considered on weekday afternoons. She also is the editor of the KLCC Extra, the daily digital newspaper. Rachael has a BA in English from the University of Oregon. She started out in public radio as a newsroom volunteer at KLCC in 2000.
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