Saskatoon men find freedom living on street in tiny houses

Two Saskatoon men are living out their dreams in tiny trailer homes attached to bicycles.

Lloyd Romfo and Harlan Kinsilla made their homes out of discarded futon frames and sheds. The portable homes are on wheels and are just big enough to sleep in.

Harlan Kinsilla built his tiny house and plans to live in it full-time. (Rachel Bergen/CBC News)The pair are semi-homeless by choice, and have each lived in their tiny homes for months, subsisting mainly on donated food. Kinsilla and Romfo hope to draw attention to homelessness and alternative housing in Canada.

They say they strike up conversations with people who are interested in their unusual homes. 

"Everyone's really excited to see what we're doing," Kinsilla said as several pedestrians stared as they walked by.

Kinsilla's house only really has room for a bed, but he carries his belongings on the roof and on the inside of the door. (Rachel Bergen/CBC News)"It's awesome," Romfo said of his life in the tiny house. "Every night I go to bed, and just before I fall asleep, I feel that swelling in my throat from overwhelming joy and elation."

"I really desire this liberty and freedom for others," he added.

"There's no other lifestyle I'd rather be in than this. I'm very happy," Kinsilla said.

Building a tiny home community

Part of that joy comes from helping others. The two men say they share what they earn in donations with people who need it most.

Kinsilla's tiny house is attached to a bicycle and is about five feet tall, six feet long, and four feet wide. (Rachel Bergen/CBC News)Kinsilla and Romfo hope to build a community of homeless people and those who want to shed their material possessions in favour of a simpler life.

"Everyone's got a utopian vision," Romfo said.

They say they can help others build similar mobile tiny homes with whatever they can find. Kinsilla said they can winterize their tiny homes by insulating them. 

"Our end goal is to actually find some vacant land and have a whole bunch of people staying together as a commune," Kinsilla said.

"Everything will work out in the end, I believe."