Orting Frequently Asked Questions

Orting Construction Site

Where is the orting village located?

​The Orting Veterans Village is located at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Soldiers Home in Orting, a 181 acre campus with nursing and domiciliary facilities for veterans as well as other programs. The campus was first established in 1891 for veterans of the Civil War and is located 1.5 miles from downtown Orting. Our address is 19607 162nd Ave Orting, WA 98360. 

Who lives at the  village and what are the eligiblity requirements?

• The Village serves homeless veterans living in Pierce County.
• We also welcome people who are in the National Guard or served in the Reserves.
• Background checks and drug screenings will be required. Residents may not have outstanding warrants, a recent history of violence, and may not have sex offender status.
• Village staff will interview applicants to assess their eligibility and talk with them about village life rules and responsibilities.
• Village residents are expected to be clean and sober. However, we understand the complexities of addiction and work with residents in every stage of their recovery. If a resident relapses, they will work with the staff to come up with a recovery plan that works best for them.
• If you are interested in living at the village, please contact Tod Gunther at ortingpm@quixotecommunities.org or (360) 872-0079

is this temporary or permanent housing? are there rules?

• ​The Village is permanent housing and will not provide emergency shelter beds. Some residents may use the Village as a stepping stone and move on to other housing options. Others may stay at the village for a long time, or permanently. Once someone is housed at the village they are no longer homeless.
• All residents will pay 30% of their income in rent and sign a lease agreement in which they agree to abide by Village rules.
• Residents agree to follow our code of conduct, which includes no harassment or disrespectful behavior, quiet hours, cleaning up after oneself, etc.

Who manages the orting veterans village?

​The Village is supported by Panza DBA Quixote Communities. We are on the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs' campus but are not an affiliation of the WDVA. We are a separate 501c3 nonprofit organization. The Orting Veterans Village is a separate program, however, we work closely with staff of the WDVA to ensure we are good neighbors and work with them to help some of their transitional housing residents move into the village.
We currently have three full time staff on-site: A Program Manager,  Case Manager, and Americorps VISTA Volunteer Coordinator. We also have an Accountant to help with the books and our Executive Director who deals with org development and fundraising. Our staffing model is based off of our original village, Quixote Village in Olympia. The Program Manager collects rent, arranges for maintenance repairs, and manages the facility. The Case Manager provides case management, link residents to services, arranges for educational and therapeutic programs at the site, and coordinates transportation to American Lake VA Hospital or other locations for services. The Volunteer Coordinator connects with the outside community for donations, volunteer opportunities, and community engagement.

HOW Was the CONSTRUCTION OF THE VILLAGE FUNDED?

The Village costs approximately $5MM to build. This comes at $135,000 per tiny home. That is 50% of what it costs to build an affordable apartment (including our large community center, land development, and all soft costs)! The Puget Sound Veterans Hope Center (PSVHC) has a $600,000 direct allocation in the state capital budget. Additionally, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs has committed to provide the land to the project at no cost through a long term lease. Other proposed capital funding is:

• Washington State Housing Trust Fund -- $3,000,000
• Pierce County -- $605,424
• Federal Home Loan Bank -- $800,000
• Private Fundraising/Capital Campaign -- $549,575
• United Way -- $50,000
• Washington Department of Veterans Affairs land donation value -- $140,000

how is the operation of the village funded?

We are grateful to have a partnership with the Pierce County Housing Authority. They are providing 25 project-based vouchers (similar to Section 8) to supplement residents' rent to help cover some of our operating costs. We also have a partnership with the VA as they will be providing 10 Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers. In addition, we have received a grant from Pierce County and the Department of Commerce to provide funding for operating, maintenance, and supportive services funds and other services necessary for the residents to succeed. We also apply for grants to local foundations and fundraise for the village as well as reach out to the local community for support.

WHAT is IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER?

• The Community Center is approximately 2,500 square feet
• Full kitchen with community pots, pans, dishes, and utensils
• Food storage and pantry as well as multiple fridges
• Multipurpose room (with TV and regular planned activities)
• Large dining area
• 2 bathrooms + 1 bathtub (units have their own bathroom and shower)
• Rotating library
• 3 staff offices – Program Manager, Case Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator

What model do you use?

• ​  Quixote Communities provides Recovery Housing, a drug and alcohol-free living environment for people in all stages of recovery.
• We also use the Permanent Supportive Housing model, an evidence-based proven model to help chronic homeless individuals get housed and stay housed. Residents can stay as long as they want and receive staff support, as well as peer mentorship and benefits of living in a community.

why tiny homes?

• Residents of our original Camp Quixote in Olympia were an integral part of the design of the village. Unlike living in an apartment with neighbors above, below, and on both sides of you, each resident has their own home. They also didn't want to lose the community they had created as a camp, and the community center was born. This was extremely important to residents. They are their own community and look after each other. 
• Residents have their own lawn and individual porches. This brings a sense of ownership and pride. If you came to Quixote Village, you would see 30 tiny homes each with their own individuality and uniqueness.
• Our tiny homes leave a smaller carbon footprint and are eco-friendly with only 176 sq. ft. (ADA are a bit larger for accessibility)
• Tiny homes are economically efficient as well, they cost less than half of what is costs to build your average apartment (this includes all our land development and cost of our large community center and all soft costs).
• The village aspect also creates an incredible community. Residents share communal spaces and it opens up for an empowering sense of family, peer mentorship, and community.

HOW MANY HOMES are there?

We have 35 tiny homes and 1 Community Center. There are 29 standard cottages and 6 ADA cottages, for those with mobility disabilities.

WHAT is OFFERED AT THE VILLAGE?

• We work to offer a plethora of social and wellness activities as well as educational opportunities for residents. Our Case Manager and Program Manager will work with different community members to offer activities residents are interested in.
• Some examples of what we plan to offer: individual and group therapy sessions, a regular hair dresser/barber, quarterly nursing interns, life skill classes, employment workshops, gardening, nutrition help, participation in community events and public speaking, veteran support groups, group walks, recovery meetings, and weekly community dinners.
• Our Case Manager works one-one-one with residents to help with goal setting. They work on anything from getting a driver’s license, paying off fines, finding proper behavioral and physical health care, maintaining sobriety, or helping with transportation. We strive to support and guide residents towards whatever goal they are looking to reach.

will there be violence and crime?

• It is a large misconception that people experiencing homelessness are prone to a life of drugs and crime. Someone who is homeless is no more likely to commit a violent crime than someone who is housed (the only exception to this is tent encampments). In fact, a homeless person is more likely to be the victim of a violent crime, especially women.
• Violence is an extremely RARE occurrence at the village, just as it can be in any other type of residential community.
  
• We have a zero-tolerance policy for assault and violence. If a resident is found to have assaulted someone, they will be asked to leave.

what about drug use?

• We are recovery housing and will not allow drugs or alcohol at the village. The Soldiers Home campus is also a drug and alcohol free zone.
• Addiction is a disease. We realize that it is a process and not everyone succeeds the first time around. We strive to provide a safe and supportive living environment for people who are in all stages of recovery.
• We have seen many people become clean and sober after living at the village in Olympia with a roof over their head, supportive staff, and peer mentors.
• If someone relapses, our Case Manager will work with them to figure out a plan for recovery. If a resident’s behavior is affecting the village community and it has become clear they are not dedicated to being clean and sober, they will be asked to leave.

can i visit?

• All tours are currently canceled due to Covid-19. You can view our Grand Opening video here to get a virtual tour of the village.
• We ask for a $10 donation for tours. However, no one will be turned away. As a small nonprofit, everything helps and we believe we are stronger as a community!
• As a reminder, the village is a private residence. The community center is where residents cook, clean, shower, and live. Out of respect for the residents and their privacy, please do not show up to the village outside scheduled tour times.