In March, Toran was able to get his own place.

"I knew I was a better person," Toran said. "I just needed a place to better myself, and so I needed someone to give me a chance to live in housing so I could elevate."

Now Toran is giving back. He is a member of a homeless advocacy group that is part of a collective called "Envision Community." The collective aims to create low-barrier, affordable housing.

The collective is looking at tiny houses or rooming houses in Minneapolis. At the moment, current city zoning won't allow such a project.

"As it is now, for you to have a tiny house, it would have to be an accessory dwelling unit with a bigger house," Ward 2 Councilmember Cam Gordon said. "Or it would have to be the only thing on the lot, and you couldn't have more than one."

Gordon says the communities could be permitted in every district except industrial areas. Developments would have a minimum lot requirement of 10,000 square feet, which would allow six units or 13 people. If it's a rooming house, the common building should include a shared kitchen, toilets, showers and gathering space for residents

Toran says there is a sense of urgency for alternative housing models that have not been previously developed in Minneapolis.

"I can't wait until we get up and running," he said