Missouri organization Veterans Community Project (VCP) has erected a whole village of tiny houses for homeless veterans. The charitable idea is set to be replicated across the country.
With military veterans making up a sizeable portion of the entire U.S. homeless population, three veterans saw an opportunity to found a project that would provide the disenfranchised military men and women with their own quarters to live in.
Not only is the VCP building 50 tiny homes over a space of four acres for the war veterans, the organization will be providing peer counseling and job training to the former combat troops.
According to the VCP website: “The goal would be to get veterans straight off the streets and hand them the keys to their full furnished tiny house (stocked with food), without the veteran having to go through the hassles of waiting for gas, electric, deposits, inspections, and voucher processes.
“We would then stabilize them to educate and support them on reintegrating into society all while treating and addressing their housing barriers as we move them into permanent housing.”
Funded with money donated by individuals and businesses, volunteers are currently building the small 240-square feet homes.
“We do this on weekends, holidays, evenings, whenever we can,” said Chris Lawrence, a provider of the lumber used to build the tiny homes. “We’re just trying to help make a difference. Little by little, one board at a time.”
Building construction began in 2015 and will be finished by winter 2017.
“Going from extreme isolation to extreme socialization can be very overwhelming and cause unwanted outcomes. We believe that handing the veteran the keys to their own home and letting them socialize at their own pace is key to a successful outcome,” said Lawrence.
If you’d like to see this idea spread to other states make sure to share it and pass it on.
