Tiny‑home village funded by a retiree

A 70-year-old Texas woman put about $150,000 of her retirement savings into an all-women tiny-home village in Cumby, creating low-cost housing for older residents. (realtor.com) Robyn Yerian founded The Bird’s Nest in 2022 after buying 5 acres outside Dallas for $35,000 and spending about $150,000 more on water, electric, septic, excavation, paving, and zoning. (realtor.com) The property now has 14 concrete pads for recreational vehicles or tiny homes, and the community’s website lists rates starting at $450 a month on 12-month leases. (realtor.com) (thebirdsnesttx.wixsite.com) As of August 2025, 11 women ages 60 to 80 were living there, and Yerian said roughly 500 people were seeking the last open spot. Applicants must meet Yerian and the residents in person before joining. (goodgoodgood.co) (realtor.com) The setup fits a wider retirement squeeze for older women. AARP reported that in 2021, nearly 20 percent of women had less than $10,000 in retirement savings, and women were more likely than men to have under $50,000 saved. (aarp.org) The Bird’s Nest pairs low rent with shared support. Yerian said residents drive one another to doctor’s appointments, check in after surgery or illness, and gather in a common outdoor kitchen. (realtor.com) (cbsnews.com) Yerian told CBS Texas that 85 percent to 90 percent of people living in tiny homes are retired women on fixed incomes, and residents said the community’s main rule is kindness and respect. (cbsnews.com) The project started as a retirement-income plan, but it has turned into a small housing model with a waiting list, a gate, shared amenities, and room for gardens, fire pits, and chickens. In Cumby, Yerian’s investment became both a landlord business and a place where older women can live independently without living alone. (realtor.com) (thebirdsnesttx.wixsite.com)