Giving homeless veterans a place to call home is an idea we can all get behind.
It is heartbreaking to think that some of America’s bravest end up living on the streets. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 23% of the homeless population are veterans. The reason for this unsettling statistic varies but no matter the reason, homelessness is a tragic reality for many of our veterans.
Thankfully The Veterans Community Project (VCP), a non-profit group out of Kansas City, MO, has big plans for ending veteran homelessness and it all started with some very tiny homes.
The Veterans Community Project, started by veterans, aims to ‘serve those who served us.‘ Their mission statement is very clear and purposeful:
‘Veterans Community Project (VCP) is dedicated to supporting every man and woman who took the oath for our country. We are determined to make a difference in the lives of homeless Veterans, a task accomplished by the community for the community.’ – veteranscommunityproject.com
https://www.facebook.com/veteranscommunityproject/photos/4569571999720201
Part of their plan is to provide safety and security to veterans within a tiny home community.
Veterans who are part of this project are gifted a tiny home complete with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and study area. The idea is centered around providing temporary housing to veterans who need a little help getting their lives back on track. For many of them, this support is exactly what they need to succeed.
A spokesperson for VCP talks about why the organization was founded and what it means for veterans.
“VCP was founded by combat vets who were frustrated at a system that they felt were leaving their brothers and sisters behind. From its infancy, we knew we wanted to end veteran homelessness and we wanted to do it in a creative way and we also wanted to involve the community.” – veteranscommunityproject.org
The homes are designed with veterans in mind.
Each tiny home is between 240 to 320 square feet and has full utilities at absolutely no expense to the occupant. Veterans can keep pets if they like and if a vet moves out they are allowed to take all the appliances and furniture with them. VCP refurnishes the tiny home once a vet moves out to get it ready for another vet in need.
VCP estimates that 70% of the tiny home community was built by volunteers.
The sense of community is the real success of VCP’s mission. The term ‘it takes a village’ could never be more true.
https://www.facebook.com/veteranscommunityproject/photos/4545189922158409
VCP’s goal is more than just a free place to live.
“This isn’t just an opportunity to get a couple of months and then you’re back in an apartment or something like that…This is really an opportunity for you to take a deep breath, exhale, and learn how to dream again.” – Wes Williams, Director of Veterans Services for VCP.
https://www.facebook.com/veteranscommunityproject/photos/4528315060512562
All tiny homes are equipped with stylish, energy-efficient appliances.
The electric stove and tankless water heater, among other features, provide smart, worry-free utility maintenance for the vets. The homes only feature windows on one side of the house to help with veteran PTSD trauma.
Programs like VCP’s tiny home community are needed now more than ever.
America’s vets deserve to have hope for their future and a chance at happiness. The tiny home community has the potential to make sure our veterans know they are important and worth fighting for just as they fought for us.
The National Coalition for the Homeless states on their website that ‘between 130,000 and 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night.’ – nationalhomeless.org
Now watch this inspiring video about VCP’s tiny home community for veterans.
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