Toronto man creates tiny mobile homes to help unhoused people escape the cold

After seeing people sleeping outside in the cold year-after-year, a Toronto man is building tiny mobile homes attached to bicycles to give temporary relief to those who are unhoused.

Ryan Donais started building the small modular homes this summer as he watched the city's housing crisis becoming more dire. He said he didn't want to go through another winter seeing people living on the streets, so he put his background in construction to use. 

"I just don't see any changes. It's been many years with people outside and it's not changing. I couldn't imagine being outside for years, you know?"

Since then, Donais has built three homes at a cost of about $10,000 each, most of which has been paid for through donations to his Go Fund Me page. 

He took inspiration form Khaleel Seivwright, a carpenter who built wooden shelters during the pandemic – until the city removed them, claiming they were a fire hazard. 

Not wanting his tiny homes to suffer the same fate, Donais said he designed his mobile shelters to hopefully avoid backlash from the city. 

Each of the small units have electricity and heat, running water, and a bed, as well as safety features like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a fire extinguisher. Donais said the units are also designed with Ontario's e-bike regulations in mind so that they can legally travel on the city's bike lanes if they have to be moved. 

WATCH | Ryan Donais shows CBC his 1st tiny mobile home prototype: 

So far, Donais said he hasn't encountered any issues. 

Terra Sawler moved into one of Donais' mobile homes about a month and a half ago after spending close to three years living on the street. 

"This is definitely the safest and warmest I've been since I've been out here."

After burning down two tents just trying to stay warm, Sawler says this is definitely a safer option. In addition to keeping her warm, Sawler says the tiny home has also allowed her to have something she hadn't had in years — a good night's sleep. 

"When you're out on the street, you don't sleep every night. You sleep every couple nights," she said. 

"And you gotta take turns and shifts with people, right? 'Cause I mean, I've had my shoes stolen off my feet, I've had my [sleeping] bag cut off, it's a dog-eat-dog world out here."