Across the United States, innovative tiny home villages are emerging as effective solutions to homelessness, something desperately needed when discussing the state with the highest homeless population: California.
In the city of San Diego, local sites such as the Otay Valley Regional Park in Chula Vista, and the Amika’s site in El Cajon, are exemplary models in how these villages help individuals regain stability and dignity. These communities provide more than just shelter—they offer a lifeline, addressing the root causes of housing instability with tailored support services. The resources offered range from mental health support, medical care, counseling, and even providing guidance when it comes to navigating the job market.
Amika’s Tiny Village site at El Cajon was established to provide emergency shelter for homeless women and children, using the Meridian Church’s vacant lot to build 7 cabins. One of the program’s participants, Carol Ortiz, describes her experience by saying, “I got blessed, and I got lucky to find this place. Honestly, it’s a blessing.” She expresses her gratitude towards the different services she has access to, including a weekly meeting with a staff member. These meetings are personalized one-on-one time to figure out which services residents most desperately need, which in Ortiz's case, was health insurance. Thanks to this program, she is able to access her cholesterol and high-blood pressure medication, which she wouldn’t be able to get otherwise.
“But this program is wonderful, and they're working with me to try to help me get a job, try to help me with counseling, because this is a big thing, and at first I didn't realize I needed counseling. But I started doing counseling, and it's helped me a lot.” -Carol Ortiz
Offering safety, counseling, and basic needs, the village helps residents transition to permanent housing. Lisa Kogan, a key organizer, notes that many residents experience profound emotional relief upon arrival. “The first thing we tell them is to rest,” she shares, reflecting the trauma many face before finding stability.
The Otay Valley Regional Park Tiny Homes Village is another one of San Diego’s neighborhoods providing support and relief to individuals facing homelessness. The site offers essentials like food, transportation, and mental health care. Early success has inspired plans for a second phase, integrating solar energy and enhanced amenities.
“The idea is to bring them in, remove all the hurdles and barriers to stabilize them so they can finally get back on their feet.” -Angelica Davis, Homeless Solutions Manager at Chula Vista site
Through their partnership with the City Net Services in Los Angeles, residents have access to 3 meals every day, which can be enjoyed in the village’s common kitchen area. This is incredibly helpful considering one of the biggest obstacles that residents struggle with is food insecurity, and the fact that the tiny homes do not have kitchens. Additionally, the neighborhood counts with a fully functioning laundry room, available on a daily basis. These amenities are essential when it comes to regaining a sense of dignity and a sense of belonging.
Another one of the community’s contributions includes the site’s Dog Run, which was donated by the San Diego Police Foundation, encouraging residents to move in with their pets when relocating to the shelter. Considering that in many cases their animals are the only family they have left, and many shelters don’t allow pets to be brough in, this site acknowledges the importance of keeping pets and their owners together.
In the future, the team behind the Otay site wishes to implement additional amenities, including a computer room, workstation, and additional bathrooms. The access to technology is especially an important addition, because it means that residents would be able to apply for jobs online and work on their resumes, all within their neighborhood. Therefore, there would be no need to worry about accessing wi-fi or the cost that comes with it, as well as the difficulty of learning to navigate technology.
Thanks to services such as counseling, access to essential amenities, help with employment, and healthcare aid, tiny home villages are proving to be more than temporary shelters—they are launching pads for individuals to rebuild their lives, offering hope and a path forward. By addressing homelessness through collaboration and tailored services, these communities provide a blueprint for broader societal change.