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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.