An Eden Village tiny home
There may be several new options for Harrisburg’s unhoused population in the near future.
A group of local residents has proposed constructing a tiny home village on six acres along S. Front Street to provide housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Additionally, the city has confirmed that another, separate group has proposed a development for homeless veterans for the same area.
Both of these projects would be located along S. Front Street, near the PennDOT building and would neighbor Veterans Grove, a tiny home village for homeless veterans that is currently under construction.
If the two newest proposals are approved by the city, this would total three housing developments serving the homeless along S. Front Street.
A group of local residents shared that they are purchasing a plot of land just past the PennDOT building, at 1103 S. Front St. from Harrisburg philanthropist Peggy Grove. The group has partnered with Missouri-based Eden Village, a nonprofit organization that has built tiny home communities nationally, for the project.
“What we are excited about is that we are providing what we believe is the ultimate solution, which is permanent housing,” said Jon Bomberger, one of the people involved in the project. “What we are looking to provide right out of the gate is somewhere that somebody could live forever, if they want to.”
According to Bomberger the group of friends, many of whom work in real estate, was looking to find a way to help with the current housing shortage in their city and heard about Eden Village’s mission to support the chronically homeless. The group decided to partner with the organization and build its own village in Harrisburg.
The village will include 25 to 30 400-square-foot, single occupancy homes and a community center for those experiencing homelessness. Unlike the Veteran’s Grove project, residents are not required to be veterans. Each house will include a full kitchen and bath. Mental health, recovery and other social and health services would be offered on-site as well.
The group expects to break ground on the $3 to $4 million Eden Village project in the summer, should it receive all of the necessary city approvals. Currently, they are fundraising for the project.
The application process for Eden Village will likely be open closer to the groundbreaking, said Khary Lane, another member of the group.
Also proposed for the riverfront, near PennDOT, is a project by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides support services to homeless veterans and first responders.
The organization shared on its website a proposal to construct a 50- to 60-unit apartment complex and comprehensive support service center, along with 15 to 20 comfort homes on an 8.5-acre plot of land along the riverfront.
City Communications Director Matt Maisel confirmed that Tunnel to Towers is working with the city on its proposed project.
A representative from Tunnel to Towers could not immediately be reached for this story.
Lane said that the team from Eden Village is excited to join possibly two other developers in providing housing for the homeless in the area, especially at a time when the homeless situation in the city has been in flux.
Recently, Harrisburg officials shared that encampments along N. Front Street have increased, causing sanitation concerns. A few weeks ago the city notified occupants of the encampments that they would need to move on. In response, a group of residents spoke out at a city council meeting in opposition to the city’s notice, which was the third time Harrisburg asked homeless encampments to move within the year.
City officials have also shared that the large encampment near the PennDOT building would likely be dispersed in another year or more, due to PennDOT’s I-83 widening project.
The group with Eden Village feels positively about the several projects aimed at addressing the issue that are in the works.
“I would say it’s hopeful,” Lane said. “It’s exciting. Harrisburg was looking for solutions and now we have options.”
For more information on Eden Village, visit their website. To learn more about Tunnel to Towers, visit their website.
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