Together with Operation Tiny Home, Westlake Royal Building, recently dedicated a custom-built tiny home to support a Lummi Nation U.S. Veteran. This heartwarming event took place on April 6, 2023, at the Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville, Ore., with the participation of the esteemed members of the Veterans Administration National Tribal Advisory Committee. Westlake Royal donated siding and trim to the Operation Tiny Home project—the first of two homes that will be completed in 2023.
During the event, Operation Tiny Home and partners presented the keys of a custom-built home to the Lhaq’temish Foundation, an organization that provides supportive housing for a Lummi Nation U.S. Veteran facing housing instability. Zack Giffin from Tiny House Nation on A&E and Netflix was the featured guest during the ceremony. Additionally, attendees of the event filled interior walls with messages of blessings and support. The dedicated home will eventually be placed in Bellingham, Wa.
“We recognize the deep need for affordable quality housing, especially among our veteran community. We are humbled to partner with Operation Tiny Home to donate our products and services to the most deserving heroes,” says Steve Booz, vice president of marketing and product management at Westlake Royal Building Products. “We are excited to kick off our partnership and anticipate building homes together for many years to come.”
Westlake Royal Building Products donated eight squares of its Celect Cellular Composite Siding in the color Latte and Celect trim in the color Frost to Operation Tiny Home. The decision to use Celect siding and trim for the home was made with careful consideration to the pressing need for materials that are resistant to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. Celect has been designated as Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) approved, boasting a Class A flame spread rating, which makes it an ideal choice for homes in the region that face the ever-present risk of wildfires.
In addition to its DUI designation, Celect siding features a patented interlocking seam design, which keeps moisture out and almost completely eliminates seams. The product is also incredibly durable, lightweight, and easy to install, requiring no painting or caulking.
“We are so grateful for the generous product donation and support from our partners at Westlake Royal Building Products,” says Gabrielle Rapport, founder and executive director of Operation Tiny Home. “We feel privileged to stand with our partners alongside our veterans to create a positive impact in their lives, one tiny home at a time. By providing affordable and sustainable housing solutions, we aim to empower tribal veterans and honor their service to our country.”
