After the recession upended her architecture career, building a tiny house on wheels helped Macy Miller recover financially and dramatically lower her housing costs. She shares what that decision has opened up for her family—more freedom, more flexibility, and a life that better fits their values—and why similar options could matter for many others. When her small home in a central Boise neighborhood drew attention at city hall, Macy stayed in the conversation, helping the city pilot and eventually change its rules to make room for legal tiny houses.

About Macy Miller: a long-time tiny house dweller, mom, and advocate. She designed and built her own tiny house in 2011 and has lived in it ever since with her partner and two children. She built her tiny home as a personal challenge and committed to living in it, only to discover that living in a tiny house on wheels was not legal in her city. Since 2016, she’s been working as a legal advocate to change these rules in the hopes that more people who see tiny houses on wheels as a viable affordable living option might be able to make that a reality for themselves.