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n 2020, I decided to build a tiny home in my backyard during the pandemic. At the time, I was running several short-term rentals in Atlanta, including rooms within my three-bedroom primary home. However, Covid-19 made renting safely challenging, so I moved into a smaller structure and listed my main home on Airbnb. The 296-square-foot ADU (accessory dwelling unit) cost about $35,000 to build, including the prefabricated structure, labor, and materials.

    Over the last five years, I've used my ADU in various ways:

    1. Short-term rentals: After finishing the tiny house in March 2021, I listed it on Airbnb, charging between $89 and $129 per night. It quickly became one of the most popular units in my portfolio, thanks to my docuseries "Going Tiny," which documented the entire build.

    2. Longer-term rentals: In 2022, I shifted from short-term rentals to mid- and long-term rentals, offering the ADU to grad students, travel nurses, and other professionals for about $1,300 a month. This allowed me to generate income while supporting people who needed stable housing.

    3. My own tiny home: By early 2023, I was in a transitional season and moved into the ADU myself. For six months, I fully embraced tiny living, renting out rooms in my main home to college students for about $2,725 a month. This lowered my expenses and gave me a new appreciation for the space.

    4. Supporting family: When my younger sister moved to Atlanta with her fiancé and their first child, they stayed rent-free in the ADU for a few months before contributing $1,200 a month. Our setup has been deeply fulfilling, allowing us to share meals, look out for each other, and truly live in community.

    My tiny home was a catalyst for reimagining how we use space. Today, it houses my sister's family, but more than that, it symbolizes the possibility of creating flexibility, supporting multigenerational living, and generating income when needed. Through my company Gather ADU, I help others create similar spaces and communities, offering a powerful solution to loneliness and rising housing costs.