A vacant lot in Madisonville that has been empty for nearly 20 years could soon become Hamilton County’s first tiny home village for veterans, offering permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness.Tiny Homes for Humanity, the organization behind the project, says it needs to raise $750,000 by June 30 to unlock a $1 million county grant and move the development forward.The planned village would include 14 tiny homes, community gathering spaces, gardens, and a dog park, all designed to provide stability and a sense of community for veterans.“There’s a need for permanent housing beyond that temporary situation,” said Earl Crossland, president of Tiny Homes for Humanity. “This is called permanent supportive housing.”Crossland, a retired architect, spent years searching for a central, walkable location close to public transportation in Hamilton County.“Just about when we were ready to give up, we found out that Gaines United Methodist Church had three quarters of an acre of land, and they were interested in building affordable housing,” Crossland said.The project would be built on land owned by Gaines United Methodist Church in Madisonville.“We are setting an example of how churches can, in fact, improve the communities with the land that they have,” said pastor Paula Stewart.The church would also serve as a community gathering space for veterans living in the village.“If there’s case managers, then the building’s open. You want to have a party, the building’s open,” Stewart said.Organizers aim to create not just housing but a sense of stability and community for veterans.“We wanted to make it as life enhancing as possible,” Crossland said. “Having a garden, having a place for pets, it just makes it seem more like home.”“One of the things that this community does is bring veterans together,” said Glenn Welling, executive director of the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission. “Not only those that would be living here, but help spread the word across the entire veteran community to continue to grow that camaraderie.”According to the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission, veteran homelessness in the area has increased 7.5% over the past two years.To donate, click here.
A vacant lot in Madisonville that has been empty for nearly 20 years could soon become Hamilton County’s first tiny home village for veterans, offering permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Tiny Homes for Humanity, the organization behind the project, says it needs to raise $750,000 by June 30 to unlock a $1 million county grant and move the development forward.
The planned village would include 14 tiny homes, community gathering spaces, gardens, and a dog park, all designed to provide stability and a sense of community for veterans.
“There’s a need for permanent housing beyond that temporary situation,” said Earl Crossland, president of Tiny Homes for Humanity. “This is called permanent supportive housing.”
Crossland, a retired architect, spent years searching for a central, walkable location close to public transportation in Hamilton County.
“Just about when we were ready to give up, we found out that Gaines United Methodist Church had three quarters of an acre of land, and they were interested in building affordable housing,” Crossland said.
The project would be built on land owned by Gaines United Methodist Church in Madisonville.
“We are setting an example of how churches can, in fact, improve the communities with the land that they have,” said pastor Paula Stewart.
The church would also serve as a community gathering space for veterans living in the village.
“If there’s case managers, then the building’s open. You want to have a party, the building’s open,” Stewart said.
Organizers aim to create not just housing but a sense of stability and community for veterans.
“We wanted to make it as life enhancing as possible,” Crossland said. “Having a garden, having a place for pets, it just makes it seem more like home.”
“One of the things that this community does is bring veterans together,” said Glenn Welling, executive director of the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission. “Not only those that would be living here, but help spread the word across the entire veteran community to continue to grow that camaraderie.”
According to the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission, veteran homelessness in the area has increased 7.5% over the past two years.
To donate, click here.
