Tiny Homes for Veterans Poised to Open in Harrisburg

Veterans experiencing homelessness near Harrisburg now have a new option for shelter and support services with the opening of 15 tiny homes. 

Funded entirely with private donations, Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for "Veterans Grove" shortly after the Memorial Day holiday. The co-ed community for single adults – located just south of the PennDOT facility on Front Street – is organized to mimic the structure and camaraderie of military service, according to Thomas Zimmerman Jr., co-founder and chair of VOPA. 

A 6,600 square foot community center anchors the property, complete with a dining hall, commercial kitchen, meeting and meditation rooms, offices, and showers. Each tiny home (less than 400 square feet) contains a bed, bathroom, desk, counter space, and small refrigerator. 

During a recent visit, Zimmerman said VOPA’s vision is to replicate this community in other areas of Pennsylvania. Their Open House is Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is open to the public for tours. VOPA’s tiny home community is located just south of PennDOT’s facility at 1101 S. Front Street in Harrisburg.

“It’s surreal,” Zimmerman told a local news outlet. “This is where we are going to be servicing our veterans and helping them be able to become model citizens in our community.”