A Denver tiny home village experiment has people interested — and gawking — so they’ve added a colorful fence

While Denver’s experimental tiny home village for the homeless is supposed to arouse interest in affordable housing issues, residents are feeling like they’re on display.

230210-KEVIN-BEATY-STAFF-PHOTO-KEVINJBEATY-06-sq
The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

tiny homes; beloved community tiny home village; rino; five points; homeless; right to rest; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; colorado;

The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Volunteers flocked to Denver’s experimental tiny home village for the homeless on Sunday to beautify its fences. While it resulted in a vibrant display fitting for its proximity to the RiNo Art District, the installation was about more than fresh looks. The colorful slats are what organizers said is a “creative solution” to a lack of privacy as passersby have been peering into the village.

Jessica Weaber (left to right), Sage Primm and Rebecca Reil beautify a fence outside the Beloved Community Tiny Home Village, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

tiny homes; beloved community tiny home village; rino; five points; homeless; right to rest; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; colorado;

Jessica Weaber (left to right), Sage Primm and Rebecca Reil beautify a fence outside the Beloved Community Tiny Home Village, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

RiNo Art District co-founder Tracy Weil told Denverite that he’s heard the Beloved Community Village has been getting upwards of 10 people a day who bring their curiosity to the fence line.

“That’s a good thing,” he said, because the project is a “monumental” experiment and meant to focus attention on the affordable housing struggle facing Denver and other cities around the U.S. Even still, he said, “they were feeling a little exposed.”

Not everyone enjoys cameras pointing at their homes, he said. “We need to think about what it’s like to actually live there.”

Jude Tibay slides colored slats into a fence outside the Beloved Community Tiny Home Village, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

tiny homes; beloved community tiny home village; rino; five points; homeless; right to rest; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; colorado;

Jude Tibay slides colored slats into a fence outside the Beloved Community Tiny Home Village, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

A registered neighborhood association, the RiNo Art District has worked as a liaison between the village and the existing communities.

The fence, Weil said, is also a visual symbol of inclusion. The “beautiful quilt” that his 60 volunteers and village residents threaded through the chain links is an artistic expression, too. It’s the other side of those dueling impulses to protect privacy and still make a point that, he said, allows RiNo to be a place to be experimental and break rules to set new precedents

Amanda Kriss slides colored slats into a fence outside the Beloved Community Tiny Home Village, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

tiny homes; beloved community tiny home village; rino; five points; homeless; right to rest; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; colorado;

Amanda Kriss slides colored slats into a fence outside the Beloved Community Tiny Home Village, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

tiny homes; beloved community tiny home village; rino; five points; homeless; right to rest; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; colorado;

The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

tiny homes; beloved community tiny home village; rino; five points; homeless; right to rest; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; colorado;

The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

tiny homes; beloved community tiny home village; rino; five points; homeless; right to rest; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; colorado;

The Beloved Community Tiny Home Village gets some vibrant art on their fence, Oct. 29, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Weird times

Denverite is powered by you. In these weird times, the local vigilance, the local context, the local flavor — it’s powered through your donations. If you’d miss Denverite if it disappeared tomorrow, donate today.

You’re our superpower

Denverite supporters have made the decision to financially support local journalism that matters to you. Ready to tell your networks why? Sharing our “About” page with your own personal comments could really help us out.

You’re our superpower

Denverite members have made the decision to financially support local journalism that matters to you. Ready to tell your networks why? Sharing our “About” page with your own personal comments could really help us out.