TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Mental Health America of West Central Indiana plan to build tiny home village for the homeless, following rezoning approval.
At last count, Vigo County officials say as many as 600 people in the county are without a home.
Staff with Mental Health America of West Central Indiana is looking to change this by offering tiny housing to the homeless.
“It’s an efficiency studio so it will have a full kitchen, a shower, a bath, a bed, awesome sunlight for the mental health of the individual living there,” said Jase Allsup, director of development for Mental Health America of West Central Indiana.
Mental Health America plans to create a tiny home village with six to eight houses near North 14th and Chase Street.
Allsup says the subsidized homes serve the purpose of helping some of Vigo County’s most vulnerable people.
“We’re mission driven and have a passion for people struggling with mental illness and that are homeless. We want to be able to provide that housing for them so they can have a home and have a good quality of life,” Allsup said.
In addition to providing housing, Allsup says the location of this village is near Mental Health America’s main office, which allows the homeless to get the resources they may need.
“They will have mental health counseling, substance abuse education, living education, diabetes education,” said Allsup.
Before this project could begin, Thursday, a rezoning request had to be voted on by the Terre Haute City Council.
By a vote of 9-0, this request was approved.
“This is going to provide more housing to more people, hopefully helping them with their health concerns, as well as using up some lots that are kind of empty,” said Martha Crossen, Terre Haute City Council president.
The tiny homes will be will built by students at ISU that are a part of the engineering or housing development programs.
Staff with Mental Health America hope to the first house on its foundation in the spring of 2020.
