BUILDERS of a tiny home village specifically for veterans in need of affordable housing have asked the community for additional funds after some crucial fees.
In Longmont, Colorado, about 35 miles due north of Denver, four veterans are set to become part of a brand new tiny home village courtesy of the Veterans Community Project (VCP).
Although VCP, a well-known local non-profit, has asked for help to finish the community and have the veterans move in within two weeks, per local NBC News outlet, KUSA.
Jennifer Seybold, executive director of VCP, explained to the station that the project began in 2019 with a budget of $5million, but it has since risen to $6.4million.
She noted that around $130,000 to $150,000 per month would need to be accrued by the organization to meet the 2023 deadline.
"We’d love to continue to move at the pace we want, which is to complete this before the close of 2023, and in order to do that we really need to bring in about $130,000-$150,000 a month for the remainder of the year," the executive director said.
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In total, there's a $650,000 gap to the finish line of completing the veteran tiny home village, so VCP sought donations from the Longmont community.
"We're really counting on our community to come through to help us do that because we want to start housing people and add this additional layer of support," Seybold added.
When completed, the village will consist of 26 tiny home units, 21 of which are set aside for individuals and five for families.
Seybold noted that the homes themselves are standing, but still need plumbing, drywall, and electricity — several essential aspects of a living space that can have high fees.
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The executive director also claimed that about 70 percent of the build was completed by volunteers, and they always welcome assistance in completing them by anyone who wants to help.
Although she stressed that what they really need is funding, and encouraged concerned residents to donate if they're able.
A page is designated on VCP's website for donations to try and secure the veterans' housing space.
"When they walk in, everything in there belongs to them," said VCP staff Ash Wallis, per KUSA.
"They’ve spent so long getting hand-me-downs and things at shelters and these are going to be brand new items, that are theirs in their space."
Wallis also works in the Veteran Support Services section for VCP and noted that they offer them anything they might need, like "food, housing, or other services."
"If they need a gun lock. If they need food. If they are experiencing any sort of insecurity in their lives, then we can at least navigate them to the right place," she noted.
"If we can’t help them, we will find someone who can."
She said that she hopes the tiny home community can be a major step in getting that security for veterans if they secure the $650,000 they need.
"I am biased. I really love what VCP does and I’m really hoping that the community at large will see that this works, that this case management model, that this community model actually works and we’ll be able to use it for the general population," Wallis told the news outlet.
For more related content, check out The U.S. Sun's coverage inside a tiny home village where residents can allegedly stay for $750 a month with no contract.
The U.S. Sun also has the story on a tiny home village for veterans where a resident claimed they're "one step away from eviction."
