The Seattle Times: “WA county to replicate Texas’ huge solution to homelessness”
September 22, 2024
By: Greg Kim, Seattle Time staff reporter
“TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS – Every now and then, Juan Javier Pedroza hears one of his neighbors ranting all night into the morning.
Four years ago, he moved out of a tent in Austin into one of the largest and most famous tiny home villages in America, where hundreds of people who have spent long stretches outside live in small manufactured homes and RVs spaced at least 10 feet apart.
“We’re not all perfect here. And some people are going through their own issues,” Pedroza said.
But he says the space between his neighbors’ homes and his makes it work.
With more than 80% of residents staying each year, Travis County’s model of using small homes as permanent housing is inspiring copycats around the country, including in Washington. Officials in Pierce County, with the second-largest homeless population in the state, are betting tens of millions of dollars this style of housing will bring people inside who would remain on the streets otherwise.
Read the full article here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/wa-county-to-replicate-texas-huge-solution-to-homelessness/
In the News
/in NewsThe Seattle Times: “WA county to replicate Texas’ huge solution to homelessness”
September 22, 2024
By: Greg Kim, Seattle Time staff reporter
“TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS – Every now and then, Juan Javier Pedroza hears one of his neighbors ranting all night into the morning.
Four years ago, he moved out of a tent in Austin into one of the largest and most famous tiny home villages in America, where hundreds of people who have spent long stretches outside live in small manufactured homes and RVs spaced at least 10 feet apart.
“We’re not all perfect here. And some people are going through their own issues,” Pedroza said.
But he says the space between his neighbors’ homes and his makes it work.
With more than 80% of residents staying each year, Travis County’s model of using small homes as permanent housing is inspiring copycats around the country, including in Washington. Officials in Pierce County, with the second-largest homeless population in the state, are betting tens of millions of dollars this style of housing will bring people inside who would remain on the streets otherwise.
Read the full article here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/wa-county-to-replicate-texas-huge-solution-to-homelessness/
In the News
/in NewsSouth Sound Magazine: “Feel Good Friday: Good Neighbor Village”
September, 20, 2024
By: South Sound staff
The Tacoma Rescue Mission shared this week that the Pierce County hearing examiner released a final ruling in favor of the development of the organization’s Good Neighbor Village. The facility would help Tacoma Rescue Mission provide 285 single-unit homes to those experiencing homelessness. The organization says that that would serve more than 25% of those facing homelessness in the county.
Read the full article here: https://www.southsoundmag.com/arts-entertainment/feel-good-friday-good-neighbor-village-tacoma-rescue-mission-elope-253-smartcells/article_7149db1c-76ae-11ef-af29-2bcd302221a4.html
In the News
/in NewsKing 5 News: “Tacoma Rescue Mission will soon break ground on new tiny home village in Spanaway”
September 20, 2024
By: Connor Board, King 5 News
“The Tacoma Rescue Mission says it will soon break ground on a new tiny home village in Spanaway. The “Good Neighbor Village” will have 285 homes, common buildings, an art room, and a farm. It is modeled after the Community First! Village in Austin, Texas, and the rescue mission is calling it the first of its kind in Washington state.
“This is a big swing at having a deep impact on homelessness by Pierce County,” said Duke Paulson, the executive director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
It will be built on 90 acres of property that the Tacoma Rescue Mission purchased about a year and a half ago. It is located at the intersection of 176th and Spanaway Loop Road. Paulson said the homes will be larger than the average tiny home, approximately 300 to 400 square feet. The people who live there will pay rent and have jobs, like working on the village farm.
“Because of the amount of people that are living here, we will have a community of people where it really is they’re working and thriving together,” said Paulson.
There will be services for people on site for things like mental health and substance abuse disorder and the village will be staffed. This will be permanent supportive housing for people who are chronically homeless in Pierce County Paulson said they believe this village will be able to house 25% of the county’s chronically homeless population.”
Read the full article AND watch the interview with Executive Director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission, Duke Paulson, here: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/tacoma-rescue-mission-break-ground-new-tiny-home-village-spanaway/281-54bd0cdd-556e-4e0e-b2dc-519a1ed22145
DJC Reports GNV Approval
/in NewsThe Daily Journal of Commerce also reported on the Pierce County Hearing Examiner definitively ruled in favor of awarding the Tacoma Rescue Mission a conditional use permit for its Good Neighbor Village project, planned for 27 acres in Spanaway.
Read More at the Daily Journal of Commerce: https://www.djc.com/news/ae/12164264.html
Update
/in News“The Pierce County Hearing Examiner has ruled definitively in favor of the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s conditional use permit for the Good Neighbor Village project planned for the Parkland/Spanaway area. The thorough report demonstrates that the concerns brought before the Examiner were fully and thoughtfully considered before rendering a decision and approving the permit.”
Learn More in the Tacoma Weekly: https://tacomaweekly.com/hearing-examiner-fully-approves-spanaway-good-neighbor-village-p7686-222.htm
In the News
/in NewsGood Neighbor Village received a pledge of $1 million dollars from the City of Lakewood. The funding came with the stipulation that the Tacoma Rescue Mission fill 20% of the first 50 units with veterans.
Read more at KOMO 4 News: https://komonews.com/news/local/tiny-house-village-pierce-county-spanaway-washington-seattle-home-homeless-crisis-homelessness-community-first-village-tacoma-rescue-mission-funding-units-veterans-controversial