TAMPA, Fla. — A groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing veteran homelessness was unveiled in East Tampa on Friday.
Community leaders inaugurated the Manifest Veterans Village, a pioneering tiny home community designed to provide housing and support services to homeless veterans.
Located on East Lake Avenue, the project is the brainchild of the faith-based Center for Manifestation and has been in development for two and a half years.
Wade Kollar, the construction supervisor, expressed his pride, stating, “I’m honored. It’s all you can say.”
The village has eight fully furnished tiny homes and offers comprehensive support services.
Garth Gordon from the Center for Manifestation emphasized the project’s impact.
“It gives them hope. It gives them opportunity to be more successful in our communities," Gordon said.
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor also highlighted the significance of the initiative.
“You might call it tiny, but this is not anything small to that person that’s going to have a safe place to live," Castor said.
Organizers hope this model will inspire other faith-based groups to allocate land for similar projects.
Pastor Mark Jones of Manifestations Worldwide believes in the power of faith communities to eliminate homelessness, stating, “I believe that the community of faith can wipe out homelessness. I just believe we can do it. We just have to want to.”
The village is just the beginning. Plans are already underway for an additional 24 units in Tampa dedicated to homeless veterans, with completion expected in about a year and a half.