From shack to tiny house: Deline builds man in need a new home out of donated material

Danny Gaudet says he needed to do something when a longtime community member who had been living in a shack admitted"he just couldn't live that way anymore."

Gaudet lives in Deline, N.W.T., pop. 500.

He says the "humble" 53-year old man, who asked to remain anonymous, had called a hand-made uninsulated shack built from crates and plywood home for nearly a decade.

"He had mice all over the place," said Gaudet after a recent visit.

The man had never complained about his living situation before, but it was now " too much" for him, said Gaudet. The man couldn't sleep. He asked Gaudet if he could borrow a camper trailer.

Gaudet thought of something better a tiny house. He figuredthere wasenough material around town that "We could probably go around and get some donations, collect some material and just build him one."

Gaudet rallied together local carpenters, electricians and anyone who was willing to pick up a drill or hammer to help.Over three weekends, the team built the 16' by 16' house all from locally donated material and free labour.

'I'm proud of the people who came out'

JoeTetso, a local journeyman carpenter, led the construction.

"I'm proud of the people who came out and did a little bit of help here and there," saidTetso.

"[We made]sure it's all insulated, that way he has a warmplace to stay.I hope he feels comfortable, instead of that old shack, cold and all that."

The tiny house is powered by a small generator and is lined with drywall with a plywood ceiling. Exterior siding will be installed next summer.

Journeyman electricianKevinRochedonated material and his time to installthe wiring.

"Nothing fancy just a couple of lights, just a couple of plugs inside," saidRoche.

"Compared to what he had, it's 100 per cent better."

The home was delivered to its new owner Tuesday afternoon.Gaudetsays the modern tiny house may be the first of many to be built inDeline.

"It's in the blood," saidGaudet. "A lot of people like the idea. It brings back a lot of memories on how we use to build everything ourselves."

A Northern solution?

Tiny homes could be a solution for housing shortages in many northern communities, includingDeline, saidGaudet.

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He said he knows of at least 20 to30 people who are couch surfing or living with family, "caught in the middle" because they don't qualify for social housing, for one reason or another, and they make too much money to access territorial housing grants.

"Programs need to change so they fit the people," said Gaudet.

"I think we should be focusing on trying to get people into their own homes. That changes a person. They start feeling good about themselves. They don't feel like they are dependent on anybody."