Tiny-home village at The Salvation Army moves forward

Nov. 2—Another small step to find housing for those struggling was achieved last week when the Coos County Board of Commissioners voted to give $480,000 to The Salvation Army to build eight tiny homes to get families off the streets.

The money was part of a grant awarded to Coos County and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend as part of a pilot program aimed at addressing homelessness in the county.

Combined with funds from the Coquille Indian Housing Authority, The Salvation Army will have financial support to cover the cost of construction and operations through the end of 2025.

Major David Kauffman presented his proposal to the county commissioners less than a week after presenting it to the Coordinated Office on Houselessness.

He said the goal will be to have construction begin in March with the first families moving in around June. Construction costs are estimated at $703,500 with operating costs running $350,000 yearly.

The vote by the supervisors will fund the construction of the actual tiny homes themselves.

Under the plan released by The Salvation Army, the eight homes would measure 400-square feet with an emphasis on families and couples. Individuals would only be accepted if there were not enough families in need.

In partnership with the Coquille Indian Housing Authority, two if the units would be set aside for Tribal families.

The 400-square foot units would include two beds, a bathroom with a sink and a small kitchenette. Kauffman said The Salvation Army would provide one hot meal a day and would provide food and clothing through existing programs.

In addition to transitional housing, Hope Village at the Bay would provide social services such as group and individual counseling, life skills training, assistance with finding jobs and, ultimately, assistance with finding permanent housing. All residents would have to agree to a sobriety requirement as well.

"We propose establishing an eight-unit micro community under the Hope Village of Coos Bay program." Kauffman said. "The community will cater to families, including Tribal members, veterans, seniors, couples and singles open to sharing. Our approach is holistic, prioritizing the individual needs of our guests."

The eight homes will be built directly behind the existing Salvation Army facilities in Empire.

Kauffman said The Salvation Army is uniquely prepared to help meet the needs of homeless families.

"We have extensive experience working with unhoused," he said. "We do it every day in cities across the country."

The tiny-home village is also something The Salvation Army has experience in with many such villages up and running across Oregon and the country.

The Homeless Response Advisory Board supported the project, saying it meets one of their requirements from the state. The Coos County Coordinated Office on Houselessness has been tasked with creating eight new shelter units, and the project will meet that requirement.

The Salvation Army will also be working with other community organization to ensure the social services needed for residents can be met.

"Homelessness presents manifold challenges, necessitating a community-driven approach to usher meaningful change," said Andrew Brainard, director of the Coos County Homeless Response Office. "Together with The Salvation Army, our vision is not confined to merely offering shelter but to pave a path to independence and consistent housing."

Kauffman said getting support from Coos County and the homeless advisory board was a key step in getting the project moving forward.

"Addressing homelessness is at the heart of our mission," Kauffman said. "Working towards solidifying this collaboration is a testament to our unwavering commitment. Our goal is to ignite hope, uphold dignity, and open doors for families to rebuild and rejuvenate their lives."