News

Jul 13, 2023

Tiny house floor plans and site map unveiled for Pulaski County community for the unsheltered

Pulaski County unveiled new design plans today for the Pulaski County Community Village, a community of small homes intended to provide affordable housing for the chronically homeless. Spearheaded by

Pulaski County unveiled new design plans today for the Pulaski County Community Village, a community of small homes intended to provide affordable housing for the chronically homeless. Spearheaded by Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, the project is backed with $5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and will be built on a 150-acre property in southern Pulaski County.

The preliminary plans announced today show the proposed site for phase one of the village, which will occupy about 50 acres of the property. Phase one includes 100 homes, a health center and a gathering hall. There are different styles of tiny homes, but each includes a covered porch, bedroom, living area and kitchenette. The homes do not have running water, but the village will have communal kitchens and bathrooms.

“I’m excited for the progress we’re making,” Hyde said in a press release. “We just closed bidding last week for the dirt work on the project and expect to start work on that in the next few weeks.”

The Pulaski County village is modeled after the “Community First! Village,” outside of Austin, Texas, a similar neighborhood designed for people who’ve been experiencing homelessness for 12 months or more.

Pulaski’s version will ultimately be overseen by a nonprofit, but the organization has not yet been selected. A request for proposals will go out this fall.

Residents will have to pay rent, and the nonprofit organization chosen to manage the village will be expected to provide opportunities for residents to earn income. The goal is for people to begin moving in by next summer.

A community meeting to further discuss the plans and review the project timeline is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on August 14 at Longley Baptist Church.

Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We've been battling powerful forces for 48 years through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. Together, we can continue to hold the powerful accountable and bring important stories to light. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community.

Commenting FAQs