Occupy Madison – Tiny House Communities for Unhoused Folks
Changing the world, one tiny idea at a time
If its been a while since you stopped by the Occupy Madison store, its definitely worth stopping by and checking things out!
We have new houseplants
Soaps
Crafts
and succulents
As well as old and new wood products made in our woodshop!
The store, located at 304 N Third Street, Madison WI is open weekly:
Our best guesses at what we still need to raise to finish the village at 201 S Stoughton Rd is about $100,000. Increasing construction costs and the costs of materials is, at this point quite expectedly, throwing us off our budget!
So, we need you, more than ever, to help with whatever you can spare. This community has been so generous to us during the construction of our first and 2nd villages, they are both paid off and mortgage free! Village three is our biggest project yet, and we got assistance from the County with purchasing the land, financing and pre-development work, as well as $500,000 for construction. Unfortunately, the budget for construction is likely about $750,000 – until it goes up again!
Please consider donating if you can. You can donate here or by clicking on the donate button on the right of the screen at the top (if on computer) or by scrolling down on your phone and clicking on the button.
Or, if you’d like, checks can be sent to 304 N Third Street, Madison WI 53704.
Or, stop by our plant sale Saturday, May 3rd at 304 N Third Street to enjoy music, food, tiny house village tours, good company and of course, plants! If you can’t make the plant sale, order on-line or stop by Tuesday or Thursday evenings 6pm – 8pm or Saturday or Sunday 10am – 2pm.
We aren’t quite ready to start building houses, but we get closer and closer every day! We know that is what most of our volunteers want to do and we’ll let you know when we are ready!
Meanwhile, we still need volunteers for a variety of other things including:
You can see the calendar for any of these events. Or, to volunteer you can sign up by clicking on the button on the right hand part of your screen (on a computer) or at the bottom (if on a phone)
or this button to have us contact you!
Or just email us at occupymadisoninc@gmail.com and let us know what you are interested in!
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has proposed using federal spending for the needs of the houseless in Madison and specifically Occupy Madison. The mayor’s blog post can be found here.
The part of the post that impacts the organization:
Homelessness Support – $8,650,000. Funding supports a variety of strategies to support persons experiencing homelessness in Madison such a permanent men’s shelter and additional tiny houses, including an Occupy Madison Solar Project that will reduce housing costs.
We have been talking about having a solar array for years, and funding has always been a major obstacle. Our proposal is to have a solar array on the rooves of the main buildings at both villages and panels on every tiny house. This will not only cut operational costs so funds can be directed towards getting people into houses and a healing community, but we will also be doing our part to contribute to a green infrastructure.
We are currently working on finishing Phase 2 of OM Village, adding another shower, laundry facilities, a kitchen, and a community room to the existing building. After this is complete, we will be able to move four more people into the village and focus on building 22 tiny houses to replace the conestoga huts at the village on Aberg Avenue. Simultaneously, we are looking at more properties in Madison to put more tiny houses to get the unhoused into housing.
Link for how to get a tiny house here. How to volunteer and donate are on this site in the menu above.
Occupy Madison is honoring our roots and working on ways we can creatively use our assets to support the community by filling gaps to support people in need. Occupy Madison remains open as long as none of our residents are sick but we are exercising the following precautions to protect our family and community members:
For more information on how we are filling gaps, please see our GMM and Board Meeting notes.
Save the Date! Volunteers needed! We will be planting the first seeds next Sunday noon – 3 at the village. Email occupymadisoninc@gmail.com
Potluck Update:
We have changed our monthly potlucks to the same day as the General Membership Meeting which is held the 2nd Sunday of every month at 5 p.m. CST. Feel free to come early if you would like to help set up. Potlucks are open to the public and OM membership is not required.
Madison-area residents can be part of a ho-ho-homegrown solution to homelessness this holiday season!
The OM Build – OM Village Tiny Homes: Occupy Madison, Inc holiday sale and silent auction will run one day:
Sunday, December 2 from 11 am to 3 pm
at OM Village, 304 North Third Street in Madison.
Raging Grannies will perform holiday tunes at 1 pm and Mike Winckler will sing folk songs at 11:15.
The sale will feature a wide variety of unique holiday gifts made by OM residents and volunteers, including Wisconsin-shaped cutting boards, holiday ornaments, holiday trees from reclaimed wood, handmade rolling pins, jewelry, decorative magnets, potted plants … and more!
The silent auction will include fabulous items from local businesses and artists… and more!
Shoppers at the OM Village Holiday Sale will enjoy refreshments and take tours of the OM Village Tiny Homes, 98 square foot residences that allow formerly homeless community members to enjoy warmth, safety and privacy in a supportive community on Madison’s east side. OM Village remains the only village of formerly homeless people to be integrated into a residential community in the entire United States.
Since Occupy Madison’s founding in 2011 and OM Village’s opening in 2014, the nonprofit has gained support from neighbors and admirers across the country and around the world. The proceeds from the OM Holiday Sale will go towards completion of the village, which includes adding community space, a kitchen and four more Tiny Homes.
