First tiny houses roll in for ‘village’ on north side

CITY HALL (AP) — The first tiny houses of what will form a village for otherwise homeless people rolled into town on Monday.

Mayor Lyda Krewson was on hand to watch as flatbed trucks carried the small structures to their new home, at 900 N. Jefferson Avenue, near downtown. The property previously operated as an RV park.

Eventually, 50 tiny houses will occupy the site. Forty of the houses will be for single occupancy; eight will be doubles; and two will accommodate people with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each house will have a bed, desk, chair, heating and air conditioning and WiFi.

A local provider will operate and manage the village, including case management, supervision, meals, showers and 24/7 security, Krewson said.

The city is using $600,000 of the city’s $32 million in federal CARES Act money to lease the land and have the houses built.

Krewson said via Twitter on Monday that there was still some site work and preparation to do but that “we are hopeful to have the first residents moving in very soon!”

She added, “Above all, our hope is this village will give people in need a sense of belonging and ‘home’ as they transition toward more permanent housing. Thanks @StlStreets, Dept. Human Services and all City staff involved in helping us provide this very important resource & opportunity!”

A second tiny house village is planned in north St. Louis, also with about 50 homes. That village will focus on houses for homeless veterans and is funded in part by the Veterans Community Project, based in Kansas City.

Special delivery!

Today, I was on hand to see the arrival of some of our first tiny houses that will eventually make up a new community village for unhoused individuals. Still got some site & prep work to do but we are hopeful to have the first residents moving in very soon! pic.twitter.com/128ubL0xqn

— Mayor Lyda Krewson (@LydaKrewson) December 7, 2020