The Veterans do not own the homes, nor do they pay rent to live there. Instead, the homes are designed to be a temporary sanctuary until Veterans are ready to return to independence. The tiny homes provide stability, and a starting point for Veterans to address the underlying causes of homelessness.
Veterans are welcome to stay at Veterans Grove as long as they continue to make progress toward their goal of readiness for permanent housing. A VOPA Case Manager will work alongside the Veteran, at each his or her own pace, to develop a plan to help them find permanent housing and attain goals they have identified.
VOPA’s innovative community consists of 15 ADA compliant tiny homes. The homes are wood-framed construction built on a concrete slab. They are 210 square feet, with a bed, bath, and small sitting/desk area for relaxation. There is also a snack area that includes an under the counter refrigerator to store perishables, a microwave and coffee pot.
An application process ensures Veterans are assessed based on their needs, and prioritized based on those who are most vulnerable. Veterans will be referred through many avenues, to include friends, family, organizations, and self-referrals. To build trusting relationships, we will conduct frequent street outreach to identify Veterans who are currently street homeless.
Veterans receive case management through VOPA at least once a week, and possibly more, depending on need. In order to connect the community to the Veteran and the Veteran to the community, we are partnering with local businesses, agencies, nonprofits, and individuals to provide the wraparound support needed to address the needs of each individual. This network of support keeps the Veteran from relying solely on VOPA while showing them that they are capable of self-sufficiency, and the community cares about their well-being.
