In Springfield, Missouri, more than 50 volunteers did some very important clean up work this weekend.
The volunteers were cleaning up the future site of Eden Village, which is a “tiny-home” community being designed for disabled, chronically homeless people.
As the Daily Business News originally covered here, Eden Village is a project of nonprofit organization The Gathering Tree, which operates an evening drop-in center for homeless people.
The organization purchased the 4.5-acre tract of land in north Springfield last year.
According to the Springfield News-Leader, Gathering Tree founders Linda and David Brown say they hope to eventually have 30 tiny homes in the planned gated community.
The homes, which are being manufactured in Athens, Texas, are about 400-square feet with one bedroom, one bathroom and a kitchen.
“All we have to do is roll them in and plug them in. And they are good to go,” said Linda Brown.
“There will be a shared community building with laundry facilities and a large kitchen for entertaining up to 30 guests.”
The Browns also said that they hope to have the first home set up by the end of April, and once they have about 10 homes and the community building in place, people can begin moving in.
The plan for Eden Village is to specifically house individuals who qualify as “chronically disabled homeless” by standards of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents will pay their own rent.
“The inhabitants will have dignified homes in a community infused with respect and hospitality,” said the Browns.
“The Gathering Tree’s Eden Village will radically transform Springfield’s approach to homelessness and provide a model that can be replicated elsewhere to help address the issues of homelessness.”
The total cost for the project, including the community center and 30 homes, is $1.8 million, and The Gathering Tree originally raised about $90,000 for a down payment on the property. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News, MHProNews
