Tulalip trades students build first tiny houses for homeless

TULALIP — The first three tiny houses delivered to a Seattle homeless housing project Thursday were built by Tulalip construction trades students.

The tiny houses will be part of the city of Seattle’s fourth “Nickelsville” sanctioned homeless encampment in the Georgetown neighborhood.

Three of the houses have doors painted by Tulalip tribal artists.

Each year, the Tulalip pre-apprenticeship program trains members of Native American tribes in the construction trades. Students work on personal and communal projects during the year.

The Nickelsville community is self-managed and will feature 40 tiny houses, counseling offices, a kitchen and tents for additional residents when all the houses are filled. The Low Income Housing Institute works with Nickelsville to provide social workers to help homeless people move into housing and employment.