12-year-old boy has big impact on tiny houses for homeless

FLORENCE, S.C. – While other kids his age might be tossing balls or playing video games, 12-year-old Ayden Atkinson has already bought his first house – a tiny house that will soon house a family that was once homeless.

“I really wanted to help people who really don’t have as much as we do,” said Ayden.

The 7th grader raised $22,000 for House of Hope, a non-profit organization that has dreamed of building tiny houses on a lot next to their facility for years. Now that dream is a reality because of donors like Ayden.

“HOPE Village” is a neighborhood of 24 tiny homes that will provide shelter for homeless women and children. Officials hope to complete construction and move in residents by the end of the year.

The tiny homes are houses that are less than 300 square feet, built on their own foundations, with a their own home address. Each home will have a combination living room and sleeping area with small kitchenette and bathroom.

HOPE Village will also provide communal eating spaces in a day center and a recreational area for children. House of Hope believes these tiny homes will provide a big future for those in need.

Ayden spent the past year raising funds through a Go Fund Me called Ayden’s Angels, his own golf tournament, and generous donations. Ayden is the youngest of 24 local Florence donors that sponsored a tiny home.

“It makes me feel good because most kids wouldn’t decide to do this. Most of them wanted an Xbox and stuff like that and some homeless kids just want to live in a warm shelter,” said Ayden.

Julie Maxham, House of Hope’s director of development, said the project answers a growing need in the Pee Dee city.

Families can live in the homes for up to two years as they participate in job training, parenting classes and education courses through the non-profit’s Life Recovery program.

“We’ve always known that we had a need for long-term housing for women and children because women need spaces to raise their children,” Maxham said. “They can bring their suitcase and move right in.”

As of January 2020, there were over 4,000 people experiencing homelessness in South Carolina. About 60 percent of those experiencing homelessness were residing in emergency or transitional housing, according to the 2020 South Carolina State of Homelessness Report.

When selecting applicants to move into the tiny homes, Maxham said they are looking for people who want to participate in the program and transform their lives.

Maxham said the Florence community is the real reason that this tiny home village was possible. Local churches, businesses and individuals sponsored each individual home.

“It takes the Florence village to make the HOPE Village,” said Maxham.

As of January 2020, there were over 4,000 people experiencing homelessness in South Carolina. About 60 percent of those experiencing homelessness were residing in emergency or transitional housing, according to the 2020 South Carolina State of Homelessness Report.

Across town, another tiny home village has been constructed in east Florence, next to Prayer Tabernacle Church.

Pastor Devon Long hopes his congregation can raise money to build five more tiny homes by October 2022, and eventually build a 36-unit village.

“I think that in many cases we are very guilty of being able to list the issues and not so successful with creating solutions. Two tiny home villages in Florence gives us the cutting edge on saying we are creating a solution,” Long said.

Ayden agrees, saying he believes adults and children have the opportunity to help others.

“If you want to help people, start finding a way to do it, any way possible,” Ayden said.