Firm Foundation

Various locations, East Bay, California

Firm Foundation Housing is a faith-based organization providing services to at-risk and homeless citizens in the Castro Valley and Hayward areas. Via management and construction by CoBuild Construction Services, FOG was proud to assist in the realization of six tiny homes in a church parking lot, earmarked for locals who had been living in their vehicles for years — some with children — and unable to afford to live near their jobs. The permitting process took more than two years and presented many hurdles: from conditional use permitting to the designation and certification of the houses as “manufactured homes” in order to obtain permissions from the jurisdiction.

With the ribbon-cutting and community support under their belt, Firm Foundation is now serving to guide many other churches and local organizations who wish to make their own impact on the homeless crisis. FOG Studio is in development of many tiny home prototypes, both ADA-compliant and standard, to suit the needs of dozens of sites and clients while meeting California residential building codes. The County of Alameda is moving forward with similar projects aimed to address the additional homeless burden imposed by COVID-19.