Jo Good believes good things come in small packages. Good, a lifetime member of the Mount Joy VFW Post 5752 Auxiliary, learned about a project to build a village of tiny homes for homeless veterans in Harrisburg, and she knew she wanted to help.
"It's a worthy cause," she said of the project organized by Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania. "I believe veterans who need the most help will get it from this project."
When Good, who lives in Manheim, learned about the initiative, she approached the Mount Joy VFW and asked if it would be OK if the auxiliary raised funds for the tiny homes through a sub sale. "They not only said yes, but they also ended up co-chairing it with me," Good recalled. Through a sub sale in May and June, matching funds donated by the auxiliary and contributions from VFW members, the club was able to present a check for $3,000 to Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania in July.
"The money will help with start-up costs for this project, including engineering fees, easements and installing utility lines," said Tom Zimmerman, president and co-founder of the Harrisburg-based Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania. The tiny homes will be built along the Susquehanna River - but above the flood plain - and will provide temporary, transitional housing for veterans.
"We're going to be focusing on homeless veterans who have not succeeded in the infrastructure that's already out there (including VA hospitals and homeless shelters)," Zimmerman explained. "These are people who have fallen through the cracks."
The project is modeled on a similar tiny home community for veterans in Racine, Wis., he said, noting that the tiny home concept works well for veterans who have PTSD and can't sleep in a room with 20 other people like they might encounter in a homeless shelter. Along with the homes, the project will feature a community center where the veterans will receive services ranging from learning a trade to managing finances or other programs to help them learn to better live on their own. The length of stay will vary on a case-by-case basis, Zimmerman said, adding that there will be no cost to the veteran.
Zimmerman hopes to break ground on the tiny homes in the spring of 2022, but the project needs to raise about $3 million for completion.
Good noted that in addition to the money the club raised, she contacted 36 local VFWs and American Legions, asking them to support Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania, and many have done so. The Mount Joy auxiliary has also earmarked additional money to help as the tiny home project continues, and a member of the club has volunteered to donate roofs, shutters and manpower to build the homes.
"We have a lot of support for this project within our organization and a lot of people who are willing to help," Good said.
For more information on Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania or to donate to the tiny homes project, visit http://www.veteransoutreachofpa.org.
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