Ground broken for homeless veterans village

Workers broke ground last week for the Shelton Veterans Village, designed to house 30 homeless Mason County veterans on North 13th Street near Olympic College Shelton.

The village, which will be operated by the nonprofit organization Quixote Communities, is expected to open next summer. Quixote Communities also has tiny home villages in Olympia and Orting.

All three communities will benefit from the Tiny Homes Big Future fundraiser from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hands On Children's Museum, 414 Jefferson St., Olympia. Admission to the outdoor event is a $20 donation. The event includes live music, food, drinks and raffles. For tickets, go to http://www.quixotecommunities.org.

The village will feature seven four-plexes, one duplex and a community building on 3 acres leased from the City of Shelton. The community building will include a double kitchen, dining area, multipurpose room, staff offices and laundry facilities.

Last week's groundbreaking was about five years in the making. The nonprofit organization received a $1 million grant $1 million grant from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund for the project. But some residents told the Shelton City Council they feared the village tenants would pose a threat to children walking to the four nearby schools, and the tenants of Christmas Village across the street. Debates centered on who would be allowed to live in the homes, the rules and supervision.

In the meantime, housing prices soared. The nonprofit changed the design from 30 tiny homes, like its village in Olympia, to its current format to save money.

"We have experienced many successes at Quixote Village in Olympia as well as Orting Veterans Village in Pierce County," Colleen Carmichael, executive director of Quixote Communities, said in a news release. "We will not only have affordable housing, we also have full-time staff onsite to support the residents and the facilities."

Carmichael echoed those thoughts at the Shelton City Council's Sept. 6 meeting.

"Living on the streets is not the way for people to succeed, and the only way I know that we have been successful with is housing them with supportive services," she said during the public comment period.

Carmichael pointed out that her organization created its first village with members of an Olympia homeless encampment. Providers such as Quixote, police, sheriffs and the city council are trying to provide services that work, "so the best you can do is at least support those of us who are trying to make a difference in your community," she said.

Quixote Communities plans to join with the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs and local resources to provide village residents with transportation, case coordination, behavioral health services and life skills classes. The nonprofit states that it uses the recovery housing model, which provides a clean and sober living environment for its residents.

Quixote Communities received money from the state Housing Trust Fund, Mason County, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Northcliffe Foundation, Medina Foundation, and Project-Based Vouchers and VASH Vouchers from the Bremerton Housing Authority. The nonprofit also received support from the city. State Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, championed the project from its inception, the group said.

IF YOU GO

WHO: Quixote Communities

WHAT: Tiny Homes Big Future fundraiser for Shelton, Olympia, Orting facilities

WHEN: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Hands On Children's Museum, 414 Jefferson St. N.E., Olympia

ADMISSION: $20 donation