June 30, 2025
Originally published in Marketplace.
Mac McComas, senior program manager, at Johns Hopkins University’s 21st Century Cities Initiative, said the tiny home community model shows promise.
While not every city can rely on private donors to fund affordable housing, he said, collaboration can go a long way. One key step is getting early buy-in.
“Take neighborhood concerns into consideration, that you’re not just coming in with what you think is a great idea, but making sure that the community has bought in,” said McComas.
He also recommends using prefab materials to cut costs and patience — lots of it — to overcome regulatory hurdles.