Tiny homes have become popular in recent years, particularly among those seeking to save money and achieve location independence. However, this community in South Nashville, Tennessee, constructed tiny houses for a greater purpose: to house medically vulnerable citizens who do not have a home. Ginny Welsch, District 16 Metro Councilwoman, recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Village at Glencliff (TVG). She claims the tiny houses are on the grounds of Glencliff United Methodist Church…
It is the first of its kind in the country, which adds to the significance of this initiative. “It’s taken a long time, but we finally cut the ribbon today and officially welcomed the Village at Glencliff to the 16th!” Welsch shared a few photos of the village in a Facebook post. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCF) and the National Institute for Medical Respite Care (NIMRC) awarded TVG $270,000 to provide a medical respite community to homeless people.
This is one of nine grants awarded by the CDCF and NIMRC. The funds will be used to support three units, including staffing, medical equipment, and operational costs. The NIMRC will also provide two years of customized technical assistance as part of the grant. “I couldn’t be more proud of Rev. Ingrid McIntrye and the Glencliff United Methodist Church congregation for their work in bringing this beautiful place to life,” Welsch said.
The district has posted a list of items required to complete the furnishing of some of the tiny homes. Shower curtains, coffee makers, and kitchen towels are among the items available. To see the entire list, go here. Welsch says they’re raising money to finish phase two of the project, which entails building ten more tiny homes. All of the infrastructure is in place and built; all that remains is to furnish the houses.
“We are incredibly grateful to CDCF, NIMRC, and all of our community supporters for recognizing the importance of compassionate, transformative medical respite care in Nashville,” said TVG executive director Rev. Ingrid McIntyre. “Through this grant, we are part of a growing community of organizations addressing the cycle of healthcare and homelessness on a long-term basis.” It is an honor to be a part of this national pilot that exemplifies collaboration across the housing and healthcare sectors.”
Some locals were initially opposed to the initiative. Many residents were concerned that it would lower property values and jeopardize security. Some of them were concerned about the presence of potential criminals in the neighborhood. After years of delays and court battles, the medical respite center won the case and is now open for people who have nowhere else to go after being discharged from the hospital.
“It’s difficult for people to imagine things before seeing them. “I think it’s difficult at times when there are negative stereotypes in homelessness, that they’re this, that, or the other thing, and they’re going to hurt people, when nothing could be further from the truth,” TVG Medical Director Robb Nash said. Medical respite spaces are extremely important to homeless people. “You can’t put clean bandages on an open wound under a bridge,” Nash said. There will eventually be 22 tiny homes in the area.
Valegia Tidwell, a former homeless person, is helping to raise funds for the tiny home village. She is passionate about the cause because she was hit by a drunk driver when she was homeless. During the accident, Tidwell broke her hips, a leg, and her pelvis. She would have had to recover on the streets if it hadn’t been for a kind stranger. “I couldn’t have made it out there in the streets, being in the situation that I was in,” she admitted.
Tidwell is grateful for projects like this that help the unhoused after recalling her own situation and seeing these tiny homes. They, like any other citizen, deserve to have spaces that can accommodate their needs. For more information on this incredible project, please visit The Village at Glencliff’s Facebook page.