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Could tiny homes help the homeless problem in Akron?

The leader of People 4 Homeless hopes to build portable tiny homes in the city of Akron.

AKRON, Ohio — The leader of People 4 Homeless hopes to build portable tiny homes in the city of Akron.

Dave Murray told Channel 3 News that one of his tiny homes would only take a few days to build and cost about a thousand dollars each.

"Don't want to give them [homeless people] a couple dollars because I just didn't think that would help them. So, I was thinking, 'what can I do to help them?'” said Dave Murray, People 4 Homeless.

Murray, who was once a stay at home dad, said he has now made it his mission to build 42 tiny homes for the homeless at a foreclosed funeral home in Akron.

"Getting them integrated back into society in some fashion, where they can exist and function as they should again,” said Robert Ball, volunteer.

Volunteers with Grace Church from Bath Township got a head start on building the homes this weekend. They loved Murray's idea.

“When you're giving to someone else who is less fortunate or needs help or aid, it feels great to give your time and your abilities,” said Angela Martinson, volunteer.

Back in March, Akron's tent city called Second Chance Village came under fire. A neighbor filed a lawsuit, and the city issued a notice to either file an application to rezone the area or shut down.

Members of the tent city filed the application earlier this month, but the community's leader Sage Lewis said the future of Second Chance Village is still uncertain. Meanwhile, Murray said he hopes his tiny homes are the solution.

“We would just be partnering in this. He [Sage Lewis] has done so much of the ground work. I would just be providing a facility,” said Murray.

The portable tiny homes are not anything fancy, but they are more durable than the tents and warmer for the winter months.

Sage Lewis said he has already brought up a similar idea of tiny homes to the city before, but did not get very far. He said he hopes Murray has better luck.

“I think the biggest hurdle right now is to get this through the city, get it so that it's legal,” said Murray.

He told Channel 3 he plans to pitch his idea to the city of Akron on Tuesday. If the city does approve, Murray said he will still need to raise about $200,000 from donors and sponsors to purchase the building and build those tiny homes.

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