PITTSFIELD — Ashley Anderson has spent time as a legal aide, nursing student and crisis worker, but these days she's in a very different line of work: making kits that turn into a home in just 10 steps.

Combining her passion for helping others with her entrepreneurial spirit, Anderson launched Anderson North LLC, which sells two versions of a tiny home kit for $9,500 each.

Anderson's path started in western Massachusetts, where she earned an associate degree from Holyoke Community College before getting her bachelor's degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 2018.

"I had participated in an innovation and entrepreneurship challenge in my senior year at MCLA," Anderson said. "I got second place ... that's what kind of started that journey."

Anderson then spent time as a legal aide in the Berkshires after graduating from MCLA, looking to attend law school. Then COVID-19 hit, and Anderson moved to Maine to pursue a career in nursing.

Now, Anderson is a full-time crisis worker with the state of Maine. This pursuit, Anderson said, helped her realize how necessary housing is.

"It really helped me realize how essential and dignified housing is," Anderson said. "It's not just a roof, but spaces that gives people a foundation to rebuild their lives."

Anderson didn't have a lot of experience with building homes. Her most relevant experience was "building stages" for stage productions at Holyoke Community College.

Ashley Anderson created Anderson North LLC, a company that creates tiny home kits to help provide shelter.

But she put in the work, building the business over the summer, getting a micro-business loan and getting initial concepts, all to launch Anderson North LLC. All while she is still a full-time crisis worker.

The business currently offers two models: “SHELTRIX,” a 64-square-foot A-frame cabin that was her first design, and “SLANT,” another 64-square-foot model with a more rectangular shape.

Anderson North LLC's 64-square-foot A-frame cabin can be purchased for $9,500. The shelter does not include a bathroom at this time.

"I wanted to base [the homes] around people that might have a hard time with shelter," Anderson said.

Both are built with insulation to battle the bitter cold of Maine and the Berkshires. They are also built around the basic needs of a shelter and are ready to be lived in once assembled.

The assembly process takes about 10 steps, Anderson said. And, although she doesn't recommend it, one person could assemble it.

The only tools needed to assemble these kits are a saw, electric drill, level and clamps. The only other thing the kit needs that is not included is the foundation. Anderson North LLC says this could be as simple as concrete pavers, deck blocks or a gravel base.

However, it is important to note that neither shelter design qualifies as an additional dwelling unit because they lack a bathroom — but that could soon change, she said.

Anderson is building add-ons that are "designed to accommodate bathrooms and everything else."

The SLANT design is a 64-square-foot model with a more rectangular shape.

Pre-orders are available now, with homes being shipped starting as early as late-March.

Even as she builds a business, Anderson’s desire to help people remains clear. There is a deferred payment option where buyers can put down $5,000 upfront and pay the rest off over a 45-day period.

And, if someone is really struggling and needs the shelter, "they can talk to me," Anderson said.

"All of this is just meant to empower people to create their own shelter," she said.