Kansas City’s ‘Tiny Homes’ Project Is Building Roofs Over the Heads of Homeless Veterans

Getty Images | FREDERIC J. BROWN

There’s no place like home. And for Kansas City’s homeless veterans, a community project in progress is ensuring that these deserving men and women have a safe place from which to rebuild their lives.

The Veterans Community Project has built 13 “tiny homes” to date, intended as temporary accommodation for veterans experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and poor mental health. These ex-servicemen and women have needed a boost from members of their own community for some time, and the project aims to provide.

The project currently comprises four family homes, nine single homes, and a community center in the pipeline.

Mindful of the fact that the veterans who inhabit these new homes will need much more than simply a roof over their heads, project leaders have additional provisions in place. The new inhabitants of the “tiny homes” village will have access to cooking classes, financial and lifestyle advice, and support for overcoming substance abuse.

The National Veterans Foundation reports that “as military members return from deployment, suffering from physical and mental health problems and disabilities due to their experiences while deployed, substance abuse becomes more prevalent.”

Without these homes and the support network that comes with them, many veterans may end up in jail, with prolonged difficulty finding work or shelter, or may struggle to overcome the trappings of drugs and alcohol.

Phase two of the Veterans Community Project involves building an additional 19 homes.

As the ribbons were cut for the project’s first 13 homes and the long-awaited power lines were turned on, the village truly sprang into life. And the emotional impact of the community project’s work was laid bare for all to see: “One of the vets was sitting out there last week, watching the houses get built and was in tears. That’s real. That’s what makes this all worth it … we’re gonna be able to help these people,” project co-founder Mark Solomon told FOX4.

The project has also gained huge support from the local community, some of whom volunteered their time—and manual labor—to help the tiny homes get built to schedule.

“So happy for the veterans receiving these blessings!” wrote one supporter, on the project’s Facebook page. “I can’t wait to see where they grow next!” exclaimed another.

“I don’t want to see a good thing go to waste,” declared a third, highlighting a concern shared by some members of the Kansas City community: people want to know that the homes will be occupied by veterans who have the space and the tools to really improve their lives.

The model of a “tiny homes” community pitched alongside classes, advice, and a network of professional support is providing a reproducible model for significant and sustainable change.

Approximately 40,000 servicemen and women struggle with homelessness, and the majority are between 50 and 60 years old. The Veterans Community Project is aiming to redress these worrying statistics for good.

Kudos to Kansas City for giving back to the country’s deserving homeless veterans!

Watch the full video of this remarkable achievement below.

Like this article, share with family and friends, and spread the word in support of our country’s homeless veterans—there’s hope for a brighter future!