Tiny home gives independence to London, Ont. woman with disabilities
It’s not every day that you see a house flying through the air and landing safely in its place.
But that was the scene that played out on Cranbrook Road in London, Ont. on Friday, as a local family had a tiny home delivered for their daughter.
“It felt like we were never going to get to this day, but now, like, just excitement,” said Stephanie Breidinger, the new homeowner.
The 35-year-old uses a wheelchair, and the tiny home, placed in the family backyard, is how she will now gain much needed, and much desired independence.
“It means independence, but still being close enough to my family to have the support that I need,” said Breidinger. “I don’t want to cry, but it means independence, at the end of the day, is what it is.”
Stephanie Breidinger gets keys to her new tiny home in London, Ont. on Dec. 9, 2022. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
A crowd of neighbours gathered as the house was lifted through the air by crane, over the family home, and into place in the backyard.
This day has been a long time coming, said Stephanie’s mother, Lisa Bradley, who added that the tiny home is an alternative to a costly rental home.
“She’s had a lot of surgeries in her lifetime and still deals with a lot of issues, so we needed a place for her to live, and London’s very expensive right now with rent and housing costs,” said Bradley. “We decided to put one [the] backyard and give her space and some privacy.”
The cost of the home, including delivery and the installation of utilities, came in at $215,000. It’s 11 by 28 feet in size, with 260 sq. ft. of space inside.
A still image from drone footage depicts Stephanie Breidinger's new tiny home being moved into its permanent spot in London, Ont. on Dec. 9, 2022. (Source: Shawn Bradley)
Builder Dan Ott of Cayuga-based True North Tiny Homes said it has everything you would expect in any house.
“You still have a full kitchen, you still have a full bathroom, you still have a full electrical system, [and] you still have a full heating system,” he said.
It was a day filled with emotion, as a new homeowner received the keys to her new life and newfound independence.
“It feels pretty awesome,” said Breidinger.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.