Single mother Lauren De Groot was house-sitting when she stumbled upon a Facebook post that seemed too good to be true. It offered homeless or at-risk women $55,000 to help build a tiny house, with one condition: they had to be involved in the building process. Skeptical but desperate, Lauren applied, hoping to reclaim something from what she described as her “three years of hell.”
Lauren’s journey to homeownership began after losing everything in a house fire in 2020, followed by a narrow escape from floods that devastated her rental home in Lismore two years later. Forced to move between her mother’s home, friends’ places, a caravan, and finally a van, the prospect of owning a home seemed unimaginable.
Anna Glanzen and Jes Star, like Lauren, were also drawn to the opportunity. Anna, who was made homeless by the same floods, submitted her application from a caravan where she lived with her son. Jes, an aged care worker nearing retirement, feared homelessness due to limited financial resources and saw the project as a lifeline.
The Eden Tiny House Project: A Beacon of Hope
The reason Lauren, Anna, Jes, and 12 other women are now homeowners is thanks to the Eden Tiny House Project, an initiative born from the vision of two ordinary individuals determined to tackle the housing crisis. Susan Boden, a mental health liaison at a Canberra medical clinic, witnessed firsthand the struggles of the homeless and decided to act.
With the help of a family inheritance and the collaboration of a Canberra GP, Susan co-founded the project, which aimed to provide a “hand up, not a handout.” The initiative offered $55,000 to 15 women to build tiny houses on wheels, along with basic building training. In return, participants had to purchase the trailers, contribute up to $38,000 of their own funds, and secure land for their homes.
“We know there’s a housing crisis in Australia,” says Susan. “But the hidden sector are women. Women with children, women who’ve experienced family violence, women who’ve taken long periods out of the workforce, perhaps have had a marital separation.”
Building a Future: Challenges and Triumphs
The project kicked off with a “tiny house university” in Canberra in August 2022, led by tiny house expert Fred Shultz. The women were given the flexibility to build the homes themselves, have them built, or a combination of both, depending on their circumstances and skills.
Lauren, with the help of a GoFundMe campaign and her builder father, purchased land outside Lismore and began construction. The process was not without challenges, but it strengthened her relationship with her father and taught her the value of perseverance.
Meanwhile, Anna, living in a tent on-site, embraced the hands-on experience, learning from local volunteers and mentors. Her determination and hard work resulted in a home she could proudly call her own.
“I’ve got a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in there. Every board on that inside of the house, it’s all me. I have a lot of pride in what I’ve created, and that feels bloody good,” Anna reflects.
Empowerment Through Homeownership
For Jes Star, the arrival of her factory-built tiny home in the Blue Mountains marked a new beginning, freeing her from the anxiety of housing insecurity. She describes the experience as transformative, allowing her to focus on emotional healing and personal growth.
“Living in the tiny home has freed me up emotionally. I think it’s sped up my psychological work of healing from childhood trauma,” Jes shares.
Susan Boden acknowledges the project’s challenges but emphasizes the profound impact it has had on the participants. The Eden Tiny House Project not only provided homes but also instilled a sense of ownership and pride among the women.
Looking ahead, Susan hopes the project will inspire others with resources to initiate similar programs, emphasizing the need for community-driven solutions to the housing crisis.
“We cannot just anymore leave things to government. We need to get out and do it,” Susan asserts.
As Anna sums up the sentiment of many participants, “It’s that thing of seeing your dream coming true. Every time I come back in here, I smile. Because this is ours.”
