Word spreads fast about Occupy Madison's tiny houses for the homeless [View all]

News about Occupy Madison’s "OM Build" Tiny Homes initiative is spreading like wildfire, generating excitement and attracting donors of time and money, says project organizer Bruce Wallbaum.

After news of homeless people beginning work on the first 98-square-foot house broke in early July, the initiative got its share of attention from local media. But a WMTV-15 story more than a month later — featuring video of the tiny house, nearly complete — sent coverage viral, Wallbaum recalls.

Soon media from around the country, including Al Jazeera America and, more recently, a Minneapolis news site, were doing stories on the project.

Several Occupy groups from around the country contacted Wallbaum asking about how Occupy Madison runs the program.

“Let us get the first house built and we’ll tell you,” he chuckles.

About 150 people showed up for a July 30 fundraiser where OM Build raised $17,600. And 15 people have attended each of two workshops to learn a few basic skills needed to construct the houses in the step-by-step system developed at the group’s east-side rented workshop, says Wallbaum.

More: http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/pat_schneider/word-spreads-fast-about-occupy-madison-s-tiny-houses-for/article_58d118a8-0ab2-11e3-a90d-001a4bcf887a.html