The gap is less than 200 people and a central Iowa organization is hoping to finally end homelessness with their new projects including a new tiny house community, cottage project and other initiatives! We asked CEO and co-founder of Joppa, Joe Stevens about these projects and about how they are getting extremely close to erasing homelessness in central Iowa.
We hear about so many needs in our community, but when was the last time you heard about a big problem like homelessness actually being erased? It's a big deal and Joppa in Des Moines is close to completely erasing homeless in Des Moines and a step closer to removing Iowa homelessness altogether. The first way they are trying to meet the need is by their tiny house community.
New Tiny House Community In Iowa
Stevens told us they will soon be creating a tiny house community and they have currently set up a mock village in Polk City, they hope to break ground very soon in central Iowa. The tiny home community is meant to be a transitional home for those currently living under bridges or in tents.
Each tiny house is around 96 square feet and has basic living quarters with lots of light and vaulted ceilings, a microwave, TV and of course sleeping area. Each has a patio on the front, which makes each home occupy a footprint of around 12 x 12. Each is sufficient for one person, any couples would get two tiny houses.
Tiny houses will be grouped in sets of 5 homes called a pod and most will have a small community space or fire pit between them. The five house pods will make up a larger community or tiny house village and the village will have a centrally located laundry facility and locking shower facility as well. The entire tiny house village will be a gated community to make sure residents feel safe.
Tiny House Village Challenges
The tiny house village concept is a great solution to Iowa homelessness, but many communities don't want the tiny house community. Stevens told us in the last few years Joppa has been very close to breaking ground with four properties, but each failed due to community objections or political pushback. Shockingly, the reason they get pushback turns out to be based on false emotional reactions.
Some communities believe allowing the tiny house village into their community will decrease their property value, make their neighborhood less safe or make the community appear dirty, but if you look at the data, Stevens tells us none of this is true.
The actual result of a tiny house community or tiny house village is that Police calls in the area go down and property values increase faster in tiny home communities that other similar communities. Joppa even recorded a video of a similar tiny house village in Madison Wisconsin where residents who were opposed at first overwhelmingly supported the project.
This is why Joppa is working with the Mayor to get this done. Iowa homelessness can be erased and they are working to get this project done. For someone to have a tiny house of your own gives them a sense of dignity and hope to get out of their situation. It gives them a sense of community and purpose and they are given the foundation they need to get plugged back in and become a contributing member of society.
Joppa just celebrated its 10th birthday on September 3 and have helped 360 people get off the streets during that time. 88% of these men, women, and children will remain off the streets, and they have even bigger plans for the next 10 years and in order to get there, they need your help.
How You Can Help
Community support really helps and creates what Stevens calls an upward cycle for our community and there are ways you can help right now.
- Check out Jopp'a mock-village open house Friday, October the 19th from 5-7pm w/ special announcements. It will be at Polk City United Methodist Church, 421 W Broadway St in Polk City, IA 50226. Click here to register.
- DONATE DONATE DONATE: You can donate right here at this link. Please give generously.
- Call your Des Moines city councilman or councilwoman and tell them you approve of this project!
Tiny House Village Plans & Photos
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Listen to our interview with Joe Stevens of Joppa
Photos courtesy Joppa & BSB Design