An example of a village for unhoused people using micro-modular shelters. Photo courtesy of Pallet (palletshelter.com)
A Tiny Home Village (THV) is a community of tiny homes that provide safe and secure temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness. But what goes into creating a THV, and where does an organization get started in the process to build a THV?
Because tiny homes and other types of micro-modular shelter have a smaller footprint and shorter build time, they accommodate more people experiencing homelessness while still providing on-site services and support.
Given the important role tiny home villages play in the homelessness response system, KCRHA recently led two workshops about how to build and operate them. When we announced these workshops, we received an overwhelming and immediate response from our community. Attendees representing approximately 30 organizations registered to attend the two sessions, both virtually and in person.
During the workshop, KCRHA consultant Barb Oliver walked through the ins and outs of establishing tiny home villages, including how to cultivate a community atmosphere for residents. This included the best types of land to build on, construction steps, and how to build solid relationships within THV sites.
Beyond the tiny homes themselves, THVs also typically contain additional buildings with infrastructure such as a case management office, laundry, computer access, kitchen, and other common areas. These resources are available in addition to the services on-site that vary depending on the need-level of residents served.
Oliver herself is well-versed in creating tiny home villages, having acted as both Director of Operations & Volunteer Coordinator for more than five years at Sound Foundations NW. Since 2018, Sound Foundations NW has built hundreds of tiny homes in the King County area with the help of volunteers.
KCRHA began working with Oliver in the fall of 2025 to support local service providers in their pursuit of building their own micro-modular village. This collaboration is part of a larger focus to make this model a repeatable, scalable component of a coordinated regional homelessness response. If you are an organization looking for more information about bringing your THV or micro-modular ideas to life, KCRHA is here as a resource.
For additional information, email Marta Asfaw, KCRHA Director of Special Projects, at Marta.asfaw@kcrha.org.
