A man leaves the model tiny home that was on display at the groundbreaking for a community of tiny homes for homeless veterans.
Katie Knol / WITF
Village of tiny homes will help homeless veterans find their way back into civilian life
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Katie Knol
Katie Knol / WITF
A man leaves the model tiny home that was on display at the groundbreaking for a community of tiny homes for homeless veterans.
Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania is building a village of 15 tiny homes and a community center for homeless veterans along the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg to provide shelter and support. It will be south of the PennDOT building along Front Street.
The nonprofit has raised 91% of its $4.1 million goal, according to VOPA’s website, and is receiving funds through donations.
Each 210-square-foot home will be free to homeless veterans, and will have a bed, sofa, closet, desk area and bathroom. Kitchen areas will be available in the community center in the middle of the village.
It was designed to offer a transitional community setting while also giving veterans a quiet and private environment. Veterans will be close to transportation and service providers.
According to the National Library of Medicine, 41% of veterans have a mental health need. They deal often with loneliness, depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance abuse issues.
The community center will be staffed with volunteers and mental health professionals. The center will be available to all veterans — not just those living in the community.
Gary Crowell, who served in Vietnam, said community is a big goal of the village, and he was glad to see how much support the project got.
“I had to reflect back and say with all the support that this program has received, I guess that sometimes it may also take a village to raise the village,” Crowell said.
He said veterans overcame “untold hardships” abroad and need support when they come home.
Carl Schmon served in Iraq in the 2000s, and he said he experienced mental hardships when he returned home.
Along with mental health services, he said he wants to see career services and resume writing to help veterans reintegrate back into the community.
He said he’s looking forward to seeing the completed village, and he’s going to volunteer as much as possible.
To him, this community is special because only veterans will live in the houses.
“Being around other veterans, you know that other veterans understand,” Schmon said.
This tiny home village is just a start, according to Crowell and the other speakers. They’re already looking into future projects to support veterans and provide resources.
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