News Feed

From the Frontlines to Off-Grid Freedom: The Story of H7shelter

by Greg Johnson, posted in designers and builders

Hello friends of the Small House Society,

We’re honored to introduce you to H7shelter—a project born from urgency, shaped by experience, and guided by the desire to bring dignity and comfort to people living in extreme conditions.

For years, we worked in humanitarian crisis zones where “temporary” often meant years. Families slept in tents that collapsed in the wind or boiled in the sun. If lucky, they might eventually get a container. But the truth is: most never do.

That reality sparked a question that grew into a 10-year journey:
Could we design a shelter that travels like a tent, but lives like a home?

The answer became H7shelter.

It’s a modular, flexible, insulated, off-ground structure that can be adapted for emergency use, glamping, off-grid living, event hosting, or nomadic lifestyles. It’s not a one-size-fits-all product, but an open system—adjustable in form and materials, depending on your climate, needs, and dreams.

During the pandemic and beyond, as humanitarian budgets collapsed and crises escalated, we realized this design could serve far more people:
Adventurers. Minimalists. Culture Hosts. Sports Nomads. Builders of small, resilient worlds.

So, we shifted strategy:

  • Bring H7shelter to new audiences
  • Maintain our humanitarian heart
  • And give back: a portion of every sale funds organizations still doing the hard work in forgotten corners of the world.

We’re not a big corporation. We’re still refining the system. We’re preparing for production. But we want to grow with you, not for you. That’s why we’re here, asking:

👉 What matters most in a small living structure?
👉 Do DIY assembly, mobility, foldability matter?
👉 Would you want something you can leave behind and rebuild when needed?

Drop us a message. Share your ideas. Let’s co-imagine.

With gratitude,
Luca & Michiko
www.h7shelter.com
#OffGridDesign #TinyHouseMovement #DesignWithPurpose

📩 You can reach us directly at luca@H7shelter.com or michiko@H7shelter.com
🌐 Find out more at: www.H7shelter.com
If available, we’d love to schedule a brief online interview to connect and hear your feedback. Alternatively, feel free to fill out this short form—it would mean a lot to us. Grateful for your support. Thank you!

Small House Society News – Oct 2024

by Greg Johnson, posted in news, shsnews

Greetings,

Thanks for taking a moment to read this update. I hope you’re doing well. It’s been two years since the Oct 2022 Newsletter.

The Small House Society has always served as an advocacy initiative:

  • We continue to connect small home buyers with builders or vendors to meet their needs.
  • On social media, we share news about the movement and news of small house communities.
  • We engage with the media.
  • We give talks at community events.

Much of the work being done is quiet and behind the scenes: responding to emails, providing support by phone, and helping those with general questions about the movement.

There continues to be a need for this kind of service to the movement, and an ability to share insights from over 20 years of experience.

I was invited to give a talk at the home and studio of Grant Wood in Cedar Rapids. The topic was small houses. I enjoyed connecting with some people who are interested in the small house movement. The Grant Wood studio/home is maintained by the Cedar Rapids Museum. Below is a photo from the event on 29 Aug 2024.

Thanks for continuing to stay connected to our work.

Regards,

Greg Johnson
Small House Society
Iowa City | USA

29 Aug 2024 — Grant Wood Home [Below]

CBS Tiny Home Project – 10 Aug 2024

by Greg Johnson, posted in community

A CBS News report on 10 Aug 2024 featured a story about an innovative tiny home project. The video below is queued to 7m 26s for that segment of the broadcast.

About: “… in Texas, we go inside a growing village of affordable tiny homes that are designed specifically to promote community and keep chronically homeless individuals off the streets.” [Source]

Tiny Homes Serving Ontario Housing Needs

by Greg Johnson, posted in community, video

In Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., the problem of chronic homelessness is being addressed by a community of tiny homes. The housing project, called A Better Tent City, is funded by private donations. [Source: CBC, 23 Apr 2023]

Small House Society News – Oct 2022

by Greg Johnson, posted in news

3 Oct 2022

Greetings,

I hope you are doing well. In the past two years since my last email to you, a lot has been going on here at the Small House Society, and much growth in the global trend toward simpler smaller living.

My work, service, and commitment to the movement continues. I regularly respond to requests from small house builders and buyers, as well as members of the media and educators wanting to learn more.

There are several factors driving the upswell of interest in smaller more sustainable living.

  • ENERGY — Electric cars, electric bicycles, solar power, and other innovations are expanding in availability. The green energy industry is struggling to find scalable practical solutions for supplying massive amounts of energy to millions of households with power-hungry appliances designed for unrestrained use of increasing kilowatts of power. As a result, small-scale solar power has prompted people to look for ways to consume less electricity. Smaller living is possibly the biggest and most overlooked part of the energy equation.
  • NATURE — Extreme weather events have brought attention to the need for greater mobility and housing investments that can adapt to changing coastlines and landscapes. Evacuations due to wildfires, floods, and rising waters have resulted in many people seeking temporary or permanent simpler living solutions. Some people don’t have homes to return to, and it’s a turning point for them. Some communities and large land areas are experiencing water scarcity. This is another migration factor for many people having to relocate.
  • REMOTE WORK — The remote work phenomenon began as a short-term accommodation, but became a win-win for employees and businesses. One of the greatest obstacles to small living is that small homes typically are not permitted in urban areas. In cities that do allow tiny homes, urban areas are usually already built-up with only a few areas suitable for urban infill. Most environmentally conscientious people who have an interest in tiny homes, do not want the negative impact of daily commuting. Having a workforce of millions who can work from anywhere makes it possible to keep your job and grow in your career from a solar powered off-grid cabin in the wilderness.

I’ve been studying these three areas of impact to examine how the small house movement is responding to demand, what can be done better, and how the Small House Society can serve everyone’s needs.

Behind the scenes, I continue to build up the infrastructure of the administrative and financial needs of the Small House Society. This year I’ve moved most of the operations devices, printing, and scanning to 100% solar power. Office paper is produced using solar and wind power from sawmill wood pulp waste.

Over the past 20 years, funding for the Small House Society is primarily provided from my own independent tech consulting and web services work, as well as a small number of generous supporters. [View Paying Members List] In recent years I’ve cut back on the annual fundraising reminders, but may return to having annual fundraisers for more public engagement. If you’re interested in contributing, that would be great. [Donate]

Whether you donate or not, I consider you an advocate and supporter. My primary reason for reaching out periodically to followers and supporters is to find out how the Small House Society can better serve you and the movement. If you have any suggestions or requests, let me know.

Regards,

Greg Johnson
Small House Society
Iowa City | USA

Marine Layer “Cabin” Clothing Ad Features Small House

by Greg Johnson, posted in Culture

Over the past twenty years, we’ve seen small and tiny homes appear in advertising, movies, and TV shows. This is still a somewhat infrequent occurrence and worth noting.

The ad below from Marine Layer shows a couple in a smallish cabin. These depictions of small homes help to have them be more welcome and accepted in communities.

[Video Source: Marine Layer, 12 Sep 2022]

Document History

This post was created on 16 Oct 2022 and dated 12 Sep 2022 to match the date the video was originally posted to YouTube.

‘Tiny homes’ in high demand (ABC, 8 Apr 2022)

by Greg Johnson, posted in media

The following report is from ABC 10 News as posted to YouTube on 8 Apr 2022.

Small House Society News – Nov 2020

by Greg Johnson, posted in news

1 Nov 2020

Greetings,

It’s been a while since I last checked in with you. I hope you are doing well.

As you’re probably aware, it’s been a busy year for those involved in smaller simpler living. With many businesses having shifted to a work at home, people are re-thinking when and how they want to live. So the increase in small, simple, economical living is on the rise.

This year I’ve continued working with educators, journalists, as well as small house dwellers and builders. Much has been going on behind the scenes that hasn’t made it into our website or social media feeds.

As you may have heard, Yahoo Groups will be discontinued on December 15, so we’re asking subscribers to please signup for our MailChimp powered newsletter. [Subscribe]

I’m interested to hear back from you about what you’d like to see more of in the year ahead. Are you a small house builder, dweller, blogger? How can the Small House Society better serve your needs and interests? What do you think the priorities and goals should be in the months ahead? Would you like more updates by email? If yes, should they be weekly, monthly, quarterly? Feel free to use the contact form below or our contact page to share your thoughts.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks!

Regards,

Please Share Your Thoughts Below – Thanks!

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Tiny House Talk with Greg Johnson (2 Nov 2019)

by Greg Johnson, posted in events, Presentations, video

Greg Johnson of the Small House Society talks about the tiny house movement over the past 19 years. This event took place at the Public Library in Hiawatha, Iowa. 

2019 Small House Society Annual Fundraiser

by Greg Johnson, posted in fundraising

Greetings!

Our annual fundraising campaign is now underway.

As we enter our 17th year, please consider a donation to help us have greater impact. [DONATE]

Additional funding helps us do more to serve the small house movement by: responding to media requests, helping builders and buyers connect, promoting events, answering questions from those new to small living, giving public presentations, and speaking to students in K-12 and higher education.

When you give, your name can go on our leaderboard of paying members.

Thanks!