California plans to build 1,200 tiny homes for the homeless. Here's what they look like.

Something considered tiny for some can be huge for others.

That's the case for some of California's unsheltered homeless community, which hopes to benefit from a promise by state officials nearly a year ago to provide over a thousand tiny home shelters free of charge.

Gov. Gavin Newsom committed $1 billion in March to address the state's homelessness crisis with tiny homes in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

California has one of the most severe homeless problems in the country.

There are over 180,000 homeless people in the state, according to 2023 data, the latest available. That alarming statistic accounts for 28% of America's total homeless population.

(California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about housing for the state's homeless community.Plugin House Company.)

During his 2023 State of the State tour, Gov. Newsom announced the state would cover the cost of 1,200 tiny homes across the state.

"In California, we are using every tool in our toolbox — including the largest-ever deployment of small homes in the state — to move people off the streets and into housing," Newsom said in March.

(Two tiny homes from the Plugin House Company. Plugin House Company.)

James Shen, the cofounder of Plugin House, told Business Insider that the company was the first of six vendors the state of California offered a contract.

"As you can see in the photos, our units are designed as homes rather than temporary shelters to ensure residents live with dignity," Shen said in a statement.

(A housing unit from the Plugin House Company. Plugin House Company.)

(The interior of a housing unit from the Plugin House Company. Plugin House Company.)

(Tiny homes by Pallet in a shelter village. Jim Meyers/ Vertizon Photo)

The state asked contractors for different models of tiny homes, including single and double occupancy.

Single occupancy homes can be no smaller than 70 square feet, while double occupancy homes must be a minimum of 120 square feet.

(The interior of a demo home by Pallet. Jim Meyers/ Vertizon Photo)

Another contractor, Pallet, builds shelter villages with on-site services like laundry.

Ref: California plans to build 1,200 tiny homes for the homeless. Here's what they look like. (businessinsider)

Photo Credit: Plugin House Company