Robyn Yerian
An all-women tiny-home village in Texas is making headlines not just for its tight-knit sense of community, but for its unorthodox approach to housing—born from a landlord’s ingenuity in creating an affordable, safe, and empowering space for all who live there.
Its fearless leader, Robyn Yerian, 70, founded what’s been dubbed The Bird’s Nest in 2022.
She was no stranger to tiny-home living before launching the village, having resided in a $57,000, two-bedroom tiny home for the previous five years.
When she began to search for ways to create passive income to supplement her retirement, she eventually decided to create her own tiny-home community, using funds from her 401(k) to buy a plot of land in Texas.
(Courtesy of Robyn Yerian)
How it all began
“I had the starting point as Dallas and just started to expand from there, looking for unincorporated land that I could afford,” Yerian says.
She ended up purchasing 5 acres land in Cumby, TX—65 miles outside Dallas—for $35,000. But that was just the start.
“I spent $150,000 to develop the property,” Yerian says. “That includes septic, electric, and water; excavating the land; and paving the road.”
She also had the property zoned as an R.V. park.
“Getting zoning was hardest part, since most counties do not want R.V. parks,” she says.
Yerian then installed 14 10-by-30-foot concrete pads, which she rents out for $450 per month.
(Robyn Yerian)
The community turns into a family
At the moment, 11 women live at The Bird’s Nest, and they currently have one opening.
“I’ve got about 500 people who want my last spot,” says Yerian.
The interview process is rigorous.
“In order to be considered here, you must meet me and the rest of the residents in person,” says Yerian. “Many of my tenants flew in for the process.”
Residents want to make sure each new tenant is a good fit, since the women who live at The Bird’s Nest truly take care of each other.
“We drive each other to doctor’s appointments if needed,” says Yerian. “We look in on each other if someone has the flu or surgery. We are each other’s therapists and sounding board.”
The women often cook and eat meals together in the community outdoor kitchen.
If a tiny home needs improvements or repairs, there are always eager helpers nearby.
“The community steps in when some sort of maintenance is needed,” says Yerian, who has hosted builder workshops at The Bird’s Nest to teach women how to use power tools and table saws.
(Robyn Yerian)
Due to the community’s low cost of living, The Bird’s Nest provides women with financial independence and freedom that they might not otherwise enjoy.
“I didn’t start out wanting to empower women—it evolved,” says Yerian. “I didn’t quite realize how many women are struggling in retirement. So now, I am always thinking of ways I can encourage women.”
Yerian hopes the success of The Bird’s Nest will inspire others to start similar tiny-home communities like hers.
“I have encouraged others to just go for it,” she says. “Quit saving that little bit of money and invest in a community. You will not get rich doing this, but it is a nice little cushion and the sense of community is everything.”