Neighbors express concerns regarding 'tiny homes' project in St. Joseph

Community Action Partnership's plan is to build 6-10 "tiny homes" in a vacant lot near 31st and Easton in St.

Joseph.

<<(reporting: danielle sachse) tiny homes have become a popular trend across the country...st.

Joseph's community action partenship wants to hop on that trend and use it to their advantage sot: whitney lanning, executive director of community action program "what we're doing, is we're looking to provide safe and affordable rental units with supportive services that are on sight as well, to low-income people that help them get on their feet."

Cap wants to use the little structures to help the homeless but the idea is not getting the kind of reception they had hoped for (nat.

Sound: people talking) the plan to build is near 31st and easton....residents in the area were shocked when they heard plans of the tiny home development possibly coming to their neighborhood...voicing their concerns at monday's city council meeting sot: connie turnball, concerned neighbor "my concen is, will i be able to go in my backyard at night.

Who knows, who might be in your backyard?"

Sot: james dozier, concerned neighbor "maybe they are getting in a good transitional area, but then again, how do we know that?

How do we know that they aren't going to bring somebody else to live in there, bring more homeless, and then they are going to start a homeless community down there with a bunch of tents!"

Cap says the target group of renters are retired homeless veterans, those that are able to pay a rent, and homeless people that are actively seeking help sot: whitney lanning, executive director of community action program "we really are looking at this as a gated community for individuals that are able to manage a rental property.

If there are issues with illegal activity or innappropriate activity then they wouldn't be allowed to stay there like in any other gated community."

Regardless, neighbors say they don't want the development "in their backyard", leading at least one neighbor--who wanted to remain anonymous--to say he's considering moving out sot: anonymous concerned neighbor "we've got a lot invested here.

And we enjoy this area.

And up-rooting ourselves again at our age is something we weren't looking forward to."

Sot: connie turnball, concerned neighbor "we've lived there for probably 18 years or so.

And i would like to stay there, but if it gets to the point where we don't feel safe there, then we will probably have to move to somewhere else."

While concerns build, program leaders believe it's a responsibility to help those in need sot: whitney lanning, executive director of community action program "these are our people and these are people that have fallen on hard times, and, you know that, that want to change their lives.

And so we're trying to create a project that helps them do that."

Reporting in st.

Joseph, danielle sachse, kq2