Harvey Harman stands behind his students. Photo via ChathamHabitat.org.

It’s 512 square feet in size, it costs only $36,000 to build – and Chatham Habitat for Humanity officials say it could help address the affordable-housing crunch in our area.

It’s a “small house” – and Chatham Habitat is building one this summer in Pittsboro, in partnership with Central Carolina Community College and the Small House Institute.

Chatham Habitat Construction Director Harvey Harman is leading the build: he’s teaching a class on small-house construction this summer at Central Carolina, and his students are building the house with the help of Habitat volunteers.

See pictures and read more here.

In addition to being about half the cost to build than a typical Habitat house, Harman and Chatham Habitat executive director Jerry Whortan say a cluster of “small houses” could better serve some of the people in need of affordable housing – like seniors, singles, or young couples – who aren’t really in the market for a single-family home. (They also say the house is designed to be easily expanded if necessary.)

Whortan and Harman joined Aaron Keck earlier this month on the WCHL Afternoon News.

Construction is already under way on the small house at Chatham Habitat’s campus on 467 West Street in Pittsboro. Visit ChathamHabitat.org for more details or to arrange a tour.

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