After four years, tiny house finds its Washington County home

Courtesy / Maine Seacoast Mission A tiny house is put in place in Milbridge, the first of what housing officials hope will be many to address housing needs.

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By Maureen Milliken

A four-year project to provide an affordable home to a Washington County veteran came together earlier this month when the tiny house was lowered onto its foundation in Milbridge.

The project was a partnership that stretched from a Massachusetts high school to several Down East organizations. While it's just one small house, Washington County housing officials have said that they hope the project can be a model for more, and can be one key to solving housing issues in the county and beyond.

Placed on its foundation Aug. 3, the 560-square-foot house's journey began four years ago. Downeast Community Partners and Maine Seacoast Mission were already working together through the Mission's Housing Rehabilitation Program to make homes in Washington County safe and warm through home repairs and home insulating, work mostly done by volunteers.

Word reached Mission Housing Rehab Program Manager Scott Shaw that a Washington County disabled military veteran needed a place to live, and the idea of using a tiny house as a solution developed.

Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, Mass., offered to build and donate the house. The school and Maine Seacoast Mission had been discussing the possibility of constructing a tiny home for years, as a way to enhance construction programs for students in grades 9 and 10, preparing them for off-campus construction projects in grades 11 and 12.

The house was designed by architect Jeri D.W. Spurling of Spurling Design in Islesford. C.F. Adams Charitable Trust funded the project, which was dubbed by the partner groups the Downeast Maine Tiny House Project.

Originally meant to be in Cherryfield, a lot in a new Milbridge subdivision was ultimately chosen as the new location.

In December, with the help of expert volunteers, the foundation was poured and a septic system and well were installed.

The project came to a halt in March, when Assabet Valley closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, instructor Bill Italiano was given permission to enter the school building and finish the tiny house. On July 30, with the help of volunteers, the house was shrink-wrapped and driven to Maine.

"What a difference a strong partnership makes," said DCP Executive Director Mark Green.

Bobbi Harris, DCP housing services director agreed, and said she hopes there will be more for Down East communities in the future.

Harris told Mainebiz last year that they'd like to build two homes in the near future, one by Assabet students and the other by local students, either at Washington County Community College or the new regional technical school that opened this fall in Columbia Falls.

The Massachusetts school is building it because they were already building tiny houses, and that's how the project emerged, she said. "The students are getting-hands on experience, they're learning how to build."

But she said that as the project grows, "We really want to get local students involved, and work locally. It's a great opportunity for the kids."