Micro homes are being built in Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, part of a student-run program to address homelessness and increase the amount of affordable housing in the community.

Two micro homes are nearly finished after 14weeks of construction in the community, which is about 40 km southwest of London, Ont.

The project, Building New Futures Together (BNFT), kicked off in September. It’s a partnership between Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and the non-profit training organization Pathways Employment Help Centre. Students hand-picked for the program were given an opportunity to learn construction skills while building affordable one-person living homes for their community.

“I was overjoyed that I had a place to call home. I think that’s how the person is going to feel when they come here,” said Crystal Kechego, a student in the program and a councillor at Chippewas of the Thames.

According to Pathways, the 400-square-foot homes are designed for a single person. Each one includes a living space with a kitchen. The one-floor homes come with a bedroom and connected bathroom.

The houses started with a foundation from another company, Kechego and her fellow students built the wooden truss frame before installing the flooring, windows, roofing and paint.

“I learned that I can repair my house now if I need to. I’m not afraid to use power tools. I made some reconnections with community members and really connected with my peers,” she said.

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