JULY 30, 2026
Reprinted from The Greenville Journal
GREENVILLE, S.C. - A tiny home project in Greenville County aims to create more affordable housing for people who were formerly incarcerated.
The vision for the Tiny House Collaborative originated within the architecture department at the Fine Arts Center in Greenville County Schools. Department Chair Catherine Smith-Gates instructed her students to design three tiny homes for those experiencing homelessness in the fall of 2026.
These designs will be used to create a tiny home community for Soteria Community Development Corp., a Greenville-based nonprofit assisting men and women who were previously imprisoned. Five homes are planned for graduates of the organization’s one-year transitional program, each with a monthly rent of around $400 to $500.
Jerry Blassingame, CEO of Soteria CDC, said it can be difficult for people released from prison to access affordable housing. He explained that landlords often reject an applicant with a criminal record.
“We’ve been trying to get the stock of housing up for people with criminal backgrounds,” Blassingame said. “This tiny home community will be another step where people with criminal backgrounds can rent a safe, quality place to live for a period of time.”