Happy Pride Month!
Home is more than four walls; it’s a reflection of who you are, the community you build, and the life you choose to live. This Pride Month, we’re celebrating five remarkable individuals whose tiny homes are as unique and vibrant as their stories. From Destiny and Bre’s meticulously designed tiny house to Derek’s colorful 250-square-foot haven purchased as a love letter to his late mother, to Laurence’s waterfront Pacific Northwest retreat on Puget Sound, to Emily’s off-grid shipping container homestead, and Born with Too Much Fire’s home on wheels; each of these homes is a testament to courage, creativity, and intentional living. These aren’t just houses. They’re bold declarations of self.
Lez Go Tiny: Destiny & Bre’s Matchbox
Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 30 ft × 8.5 ft × 13.5 ft | ~255 sq ft + loft Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1
Purchase Price: $90,000 Lot Rent: $650/month
Monthly Total: $2,000/month Utility Bills: Included in lot rent + $30–$60/month propane Watch the Full Tour
Destiny and Bre are a young couple living in Matchbox, a 255 sq ft tiny house on wheels parked in Portland, Oregon. Motivated by a desire to own property without the burden of a traditional mortgage, they purchased their 30-foot home for $90,000. Matchbox features one loft bedroom, a combined bathroom and laundry room, a fully functional kitchen, and two office lofts; all designed for two people who work remotely. They rent their lot for $650 a month, which includes all utilities. Their story challenges the notion that homeownership is out of reach for young people of color.
While Destiny and Bre prove that tiny living can thrive in an urban setting, Laurence’s story shows just how expansive and deeply personal a small home can feel when it’s rooted in land you truly own.
Lawson Woods: Laurence’s Waterfront Retreat
Location: Puget Sound, Washington Size: 28 ft × 8 ft × 13.5 ft | 354 sq ft total Bedrooms: 1 king loft + 1 storage loft
Bathrooms: 1 Land Cost: $49,500 Tiny House:$17,000 Renovation Costs: ~$15,000
Mortgage: None Utility Bills: Minimal — septic, self-installed electric, rainwater catchment Watch the Full Tour
Laurence’s tiny house sits on 0.6 acres along the stunning Hammersley Inlet on Washington’s South Puget Sound, and his house is as bold as its setting. This 354-square-foot home features a full-size kitchen, a king-size sleeping loft, and a spacious 50-square-foot bathroom. Built with a striking black interior, natural wood accents, and 13 windows, the space is anything but ordinary. Purchased as an unfinished shell and lovingly completed through hands-on DIY work, the entire property came in at around $81,500. Laurence shares his life with partner Jason of 23 years, and the couple’s dream is to eventually have two tiny houses side by side: a perfect “his and his” setup on the waterfront.
While Laurence found his peace on the water, sometimes the most powerful tiny home stories are rooted in the heart of a city — and in the memory of someone you’ve loved and lost.
Derek Half the City: Derek’s Colorful Sanctuary
Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 22 ft × 8.5 ft × 13.5 ft | 250 sq ft Bedrooms: 1 main sleeping area + 3 lofts
Bathrooms: 1 Purchase Price: $26,000 Lot Rent: $655/month total
Utilities: included in lot rent Propane: ~$20 every 3 months Watch the Full Tour
Derek Espinosa’s 250-square-foot tiny house in Portland, Oregon is proof that small living can mean a big life. Purchased for $26,000 using life insurance money from his late mother, the home sits on a dual-axle trailer and features three lofts, a full-size kitchen, and a composting bathroom. Derek shares the space with two roommates and three pets, splitting lot rental costs to just $250 each per month including utilities. Bursting with color, personal artwork, and cherished mementos, the house is as much an emotional sanctuary as it is a financial win. For Derek, it’s not just tiny, it’s home.
Derek’s home is proof that community and connection can flourish in 250 square feet in the middle of a city. But for some, intentional living means heading in the opposite direction, away from the grid entirely.
Emily’s Container Homestead: Off the Grid in Maine
Location: White Mountains, Maine Size: ~450 sq ft total Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Land Cost: $33,000
Power: 4kW solar system, 8 batteries Heating: Propane Water: Hauled water (well in progress)
Utility Bills: Minimal Extras: Gym, garage, wood-fired sauna, fly-fishing river access Watch the Full Tour
Tucked into the western foothills of the White Mountains, Emily’s homestead is built from five repurposed shipping containers totaling roughly 450 square feet. Purchased for just $33,000, the property runs entirely on solar power with Starlink internet keeping it connected to the outside world. Emily shares the home with her wife and two cats, splitting time between the container homestead and a small city apartment. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom property features a gym, garage, wood-fired sauna, and river access on a fly-fishing-only stretch bordered by conservation land. Built almost entirely by Emily herself (a personal trainer with no trades background) the homestead is a living showcase of resourcefulness, sustainability, and the rewards of off-grid living.
While Emily planted her roots deep in the Maine wilderness, not every off-grid story ends with land beneath your feet. Sometimes, the most intentional home is one with wheels and no fixed destination in sight.
Born with Too Much Fire: Shuttle Bus Home on Wheels
Location: Currently Baja, Mexico Size: Est. 160 sq ft Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1 Vehicle Cost: $6,000 Build Cost: ~$10,000–$15,000
Power: 300W solar, 200Ah lithium, diesel heat, propane cooking Utility Bills: Minimal — off-grid Watch the Full Tour
Born with Too Much Fire has spent nearly six years living full-time on the road, first in a van and now in a lovingly converted 1997 Ford E350 shuttle bus. Purchased for just $6,000, they spent a year building out their 21-foot home using largely reclaimed materials; crafting everything from custom cabinetry to a fully off-grid electrical system. Their space features one bedroom, a composting bathroom, a functional kitchen, and a cozy living area filled with thrifted treasures and handmade décor. Running entirely on solar power with no rent, they’ve mastered intentional living on their own terms and they’re currently soaking up the sun in Baja, Mexico.
The Bigger Picture
What unites Derek, Laurence, Destiny, Bre, Emily and Born with too much fire, isn’t just the square footage, it’s the courage to live differently and unapologetically on their own terms. In doing so, they’ve each contributed something powerful to the tiny house movement: proof that financial freedom, authentic self-expression, and genuine community aren’t found in the size of your home, but in the intention behind it. This Pride Month, we honor not just their identities, but their courage to build lives that truly fit who they are. The tiny house community is richer, more colorful, and more inspiring because of them. 🏳️🌈
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