White entitlement and privilege. I like tiny houses. I think they are often ingenious and efficient. I also like zoning laws. I don’t want a smelting company to open up next door to a kindergarten.

The whole story (IMHO) has the attitude of “What’s the big deal? A girl wants to move back to her home town and finds a unique solution.” But the facts are that she finds an illegal solution, knows this, and tries to hide her crime in the bushes on her parents property.

I don’t believe a story about a black/brown/red girl who can’t afford rent and decides that the solution is to live in a hidden, illegal shack on her parents property would get the same “What’s the big deal” type of story and responses.

The whole story didn’t pass the smell test for me. I looked online and found on rent.com an apartment for $895 in “Olde English Village of Hampton” in 5 minutes. Ms. O’Brian has $29,000 for a tiny house. That is over 2 1/2 years rent at that place I found. Why didn’t Ms. O’Brian live with her folks while she worked through the red-tape of Tiny House registration? Who has $29,000 for a tiny house but can’t afford rent? Maybe I’m missing something, but my gut tells me entitlement and privilege were behind the decision making process.

Thanks for the very nice comment/question. I hope I answered as nicely as you asked!