Stephen Ellison

Santa Rosa Couple Building Tiny Homes to Help Fire Victims

A Santa Rosa couple whose home made it through the destructive wildfires has decided to help others using their own skills and resources.

Charlie McEvoy, a contractor, and his wife Andrea are building tiny homes for those who lost everything.

"People who weren't insured, renters who were left with nothing," said Charlie, who added that his wife came up with the idea.

The tiny homes will have a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping quarters, all in a space about the size of an RV. They've already started on the first one.

"Because we are OK, we felt this great need to give that comfort to someone else," Andrea said.

The McEvoys' phone has been ringing off the hook because the need is so great. Thousands of homes were destroyed in the wildfires, leaving thousands of families homeless.

Sonoma County supervisors just approved an interim housing plan designed to help. It includes allowing RVs and travel trailers to be used as temporary housing. Gil Robello is one of those living in his RV.

"We lost 5 percent of the houses in Santa Rosa, an area that was already scarce," Robello said. "We need help."

The plan also includes opening up resorts and camps for temporary homes and is looking at transitional housing.

"Modular units, anywhere from 20 to 800 or more on a particular site," said Tennis Wick, county permits director.

The McEvoys are navigating the permit process to get it up and running legally. They hope to raise enough money to build one or two more.

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