LONGMONT, Colo. — Talks about tiny homes and micro-communities are gaining traction across the state and country to help ease the homelessness crisis.
The nonprofit, Veterans Community Project (VCP) in Longmont, is making it happen with their own tiny home village for unhoused veterans.
After a couple years spent planning and building, four veterans have moved in with more to come over the next year.
"It feels like forever already, too," said Kendrick Hargrove, a fourth generation veteran.
He moved into the tiny home village in September.
"It's like one of the safest places I've ever been in, too, so I have way less PTSD reactions here and just in general," said Hargrove.
We first introduced you to Hargrove in March. He had just left the Air Force, after an eight year career.
"When I became a sergeant I realized that I enjoyed working with people more than I liked working with planes and so I needed a whole career change," he said.
He became inspired to go back to college.
"So I can be a system of support for others in the future and stuff too," said Hargrove.
But, transitioning to civilian life can be difficult.
"Asking for support and building yourself on top of that support creates an extremely strong foundation," he said. "If you want to go anywhere in life creating an extremely strong foundation is what you want to do.”
As a homeless student at Naropa University, Hargrove sought out support from VCP.
"It's great, greatest support system I've ever had," he said.
Executive director at VCP Jennifer Seybold said with the help of community volunteers, they started construction on this tiny home village for unhoused vets in September 2022.
"It's been amazing to see both Kendrick and some of our other veterans just progress already," she said.
However, she said they still need raise $1 million to complete their 26-unit tiny home village.
"We've still got a significant hurdle to overcome. Thankfully since we last spoke, we've had a lot of small gifts come in," said Seybold. "The escalating cost of things has just been a challenge."
She said seeing veterans like Kendrick living here now remind them why they do this work.
"I'm always amazed at the individuals we meet in our program who've been through so much and who have such big challenges and just have this incredibly positive outlook on life but that's just the person that he is," said Seybold.
Hargrove said he thinks he needs a year to get back on his feet, all while making progress on his own goals and paying it forward. He's also mentoring younger men.
"It makes me want to push myself a lot more to this day in front of them so I can continue to be in their lives and give them support on that too," he said.
Right now, Hargrove is studying psychology, and thinking about double majoring in creative writing.
"I have so much momentum it is insane," he said. "I like to grow myself and so when I meet people they begin to evolve as well too because I just like, jump on my back, take us to the heavens type of thing."
Seybold said they don't turn away any veteran who needs help. VCP has walk-in hours at their Main Street location in Longmont, where veterans can work with a case manager.
VCP is also hosting a Veteran Stand Down event at the American Legion Post 32 in Longmont on Thursday, the 16th. They will be providing cold weather gear, lunches, and services to vets experiencing homelessness.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS