VCP Provides Tiny Homes for Homeless Veterans
VCP Provides Tiny Homes for Homeless Veterans
Founded by a group of Veterans in Kansas City, MO, the Veterans Community Project (VCP) aims to end veteran homelessness by serving in a way nobody else has. The VCP tiny home project established a village of 49 tiny homes for homeless Veterans. Most VCP tiny houses are about 240 square feet, and all are available for free to homeless Veterans regardless of discharge status or VA eligibility. Every detail of these homes is designed with Veteran needs in mind, down to the specific placement of doors and windows to increase a sense of security for those living with PTSD.
The VCP Village isn’t just a group of tiny houses for the homeless community. The houses surround a central community center which provides a long list of services for Veterans living both on- and off-site. This could be anything from help setting up a smart phone for easier communication with the VA all the way to securing emergency financial assistance. What’s more, if a Veteran has a need that can’t be addressed in-house, VCP has established a network of outside resources to which they can refer.
The Case Managers and Counsellors at VCP recognize that every Veteran has a unique story and that a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t cut it. Staff meets with each resident on a regular basis to ensure that the underlying cause of their homelessness is thoroughly addressed and that they receive the tools needed to return to stable independent life when the time comes.
While there is no limit to the amount of time a resident can live on-site, on average, VCP homeless Veterans stay approximately 8-10 months before they are ready to take the next step. Once the goals of a Veteran’s individual plan are met, VCP assists that Vet in finding a permanent housing solution and continues to provide case management services for a year.
VCP Kansas City has served more than 4,100 at risk Veterans and transitioned more than 40 Vets from the tiny home community to permanent living since 2018. Today, they are expanding their program with more tiny homes for veterans. VCP Villages are under construction in St. Louis, MO and Longmont, CO.
Visit the VCP website to learn more, inquire about services, or get involved.