Hamilton's 1st Tiny Homes Show draws people looking for affordable, minimalist living
CBC
Two weeks after buying a new home in Alberta, Vince and Ayşe Macdonald found themselves in Ancaster, Ont. — and they brought their tiny home with them.
The married couple said moving into a tiny home helped them get rid of the things they didn't need.
"I don't wear half of my clothes, I don't use half of the dishes. It just made sense," Ayşe said.
"We're not serving our stuff; our stuff is serving us," Vince said.
Their residence was one of 19 tiny homes and trailers available for visitors to view from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7 at the Tiny Home Show on the Ancaster Fairgrounds.
The event attracted over 2,000 visitors, according to the organizers, and had over 20 speakers presenting on topics including climate and integrating into a tiny home.
People of all ages visited the show throughout the weekend, some looking for retirement homes, others to buy their first house. Among the exhibitors were some of the many builders of tiny homes across Canada.
Maria Sturova, the show's co-producer, said the event's turnout is a sign people need better housing options.
"There's a housing crisis and a climate crisis. There's not a single person who is not touched by this. And so these people here are trying to find solutions."
Even as rents continue to climb and housing sales are slowing, costs are still higher than they were pre-pandemic.
According to a Rentals.ca report, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom unit in Hamilton is $1,603, up roughly $100 from rates in February.
A report from the Realtors Association of Hamilton and Burlington showed fewer listings and a slight drop in the value of homes, though the average price to buy a residential property in the Hamilton-Burlington area is $946,026. That compares to $658,654 in March 2020.
The City of Hamilton has passed bylaws to allow secondary units — like basement apartments or laneway houses — and is aiming to regulate short-term rentals like Airbnbs to protect the housing market.
According to the Macdonald family, their minimalist lifestyle is freeing, but Ayşe noted "it's different for everyone."
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