Amy Skinner watched as workers began building tiny colorful structures across from a park where she sometimes slept in North Hollywood. Tiny homes are being used for housing in costly areas of the United States. Others have joined the “tiny house movement” to live a simpler life. In Los Angeles, California, tiny homes are now being used as temporary shelters for people like Amy Skinner. She has been homeless for three years. In early February, Skinner received the key to one of the 39 tiny homes on Chandler Street. She and her partner, John Golka, moved into the 6-square-meter space with their little dog, Smalls. The tiny home has four windows, two beds, places for belongings, and an air conditioner. The welcome mat at the front door says: “This is our happy place.” “Being able to lock the door and have a place to sleep is huge,” said Skinner who is 48 years old. She added, “That’s so hard to do when you’re on the streets.”