TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Six tiny blue homes in Terre Haute aim to provide an opportunity at stable housing for local veterans.
Those homes are known as Veteran’s Village. Terre Haute Area Association of Realtors President Kyle Shoults says the cluster of homes will provide a unique opportunity for local veterans to get back on their feet.
“Right now it’s designed as a transitional program,” Shoults said. “People come in for 9 months to a year to get established and get an address and get some resources going, and the goal is to be a transition to permanent housing, so that’s kind of the whole idea behind it.”
The project began all the way back in 2001 after the land was donated by a local veteran named Carl Cooper. Fundraising efforts began in 2022, now construction is nearly complete. Contractor Joseph Tucker says the process has been rewarding.
“Part of the reason I like doing my job is because I like to build Terre Haute back up to what it should be,” Tucker said. “Something like this going to the veterans is such a great thing, and it makes me feel proud to be working on it. This is an awesome thing to be able to be part of.”
With demands already high for the homes, Shoults says veterans will be selected through an application process.
“We’ll have a website up,” Shoults said. “Unfortunately there is a big demand in our local community for veterans needing housing, so only having six units, they are definitely going to be full all the time. I wish we had more units to help more individuals, but they’ll definitely be filled up and stay filled up all the time, but we have a website and we’ll be posting that when the time comes.”
Officials say the project will be completed by the end of 2024. Organizers have not yet posted a website for applications.
List of contributors:
-Union 105
-Dave Burris Contractors
-Thermal Zone
-Hagan Construction
-Schalburg Heating and Cooling
-CDE, Charlie Dunn
-Marty Marrs Construction
-R&L Construction
-Woodco Walls
-St Construction
-Laborers 204
-Niehaus Home Center
-B&S Plumbing
-Aaron Mackey Design
-City of Terre Haute
-Vigo Co. Commissioners
