'We Are Actually Like An Automobile Company': ZenniHome Wants To Solve Affordable Housing Crisis

America's affordable housing crisis seems to worsen by the day.

The nation is short more than 7 million affordable homes for its 10.8 million-plus extremely low-income families, and there is no state or county where a renter working full time for minimum wage can afford a two-bedroom apartment, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

But one company is striving to be part of the solution. Page, Arizona-based ZenniHome designs and manufactures its models to be easily transported, have a minimum environmental footprint, stack in multifamily configurations and offer leading-edge technologies that are changing the way people buy and live in homes.

ZenniHome's patented design features an open-concept floor plan for maximum functionality and flexibility. It's integrated high-tech robotic walls and furniture — beds lift out of the way to ceilings, for example — that can be configured in various ways so customers can create their perfect living environment.

The company's two models — the Citizen and Denizen — are available in a range of colors, finishes and add-on options. They come with a fully furnished design package that includes beds, a sofa, table and chairs, kitchen appliances, desks, TV, stacked washers and dryers, tankless unlimited hot water heaters and smart home features.

ZenniHomes are designed with sustainability in mind. They have factory-installed solar systems to produce energy, lithium-ion backup batteries to store it, gray- and black-water recycling for water management and atmospheric-extracted potable water for reduced water dependence.

The company also has predesigned ZenCity combinations for developers with two to 100 units that are stackable up to seven stories. The products include stair and elevator enclosures; covered walkways, patios, decks and parking; enclosed garages; and storage.

ZenniHome broke ground in July on 29 West, a 90-unit multifamily building that is the first project to use the company's stacking technology.

The homes are made in a temperature-controlled climate in a factory that was transitioned from a decommissioned coal plant on Navajo land.

ZenniHome's founders don't view themselves as homebuilders.

"We are actually like an automobile company," said  Bob Worsley, a manufacturing expert who co-founded ZenniHome with designer and architect Stephen James in 2019. "We have a product, and we're telling our customers that want this product that we are not building projects, we're building a product."

The privately funded company had 40,000 soft orders before it officially launched. It recently launched an equity crowdfunding campaign to help fund its growth and has already cleared over $1.2 million raised from 680 investors. About 75% of ZenniHome's preorders are from multifamily developers.

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