Shelton FAQ

SHELTON VILLAGE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who will manage the Shelton Veterans Village?

The Village will be supported by Panza DBA Quixote Communities, a 501C3 non-profit organization. We will have four full time staff: An Executive Director, Program Manager, Case Manager and Americorps VISTA. We will also have an Accountant to help with the books. Our staffing model is based off of our current village, Quixote Village in Olympia.

What model will you use?

Quixote Communities will offer recovery housing, a drug and alcohol-free living environment for people in all stages of recovery.
We will provide Permanent Supportive Housing. 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.

What is the vetting process and who will be living there?

The village will be home to chronically homeless veterans living in Mason County. Once Mason County is at a functional zero we will be able to house veterans in other nearby counties.
Crossroads Housing is the Coordinated Entry (CE) point for homeless adults in Mason County. We will work with them to manage our wait list. The wait list is prioritized based on vulnerability.
In general, the admission process will include an initial interview with Village staff to determine eligibility, followed by an interview with the Resident Council’s Village Life Committee and an opportunity to meet Village residents.
Applicants must pass a urinary analysis (UA)
Applicants must pass a background check. We do not house people with lifetime sex offender registration, convicted of manufacturing methamphetamines, or people with active warrants (we use the same screening criteria as the Housing Authority)
All residents will be veterans
Village residents are expected to be clean and sober. However, we understand the complexity of alcohol and substance use and work with residents in every stage of their recovery. If a resident relapses or is struggling, they will work with the Case Manager to come up with a recovery plan.

What is in each tiny home?

Each 176 sq. ft. tiny home consists of:
Twin bed with linen, pillow, and storage underneath
Full bath (toilet, sink, and shower)
Closet
Desk and chair
Full electricity (lights, heater, heat lamp in bathroom)
Several windows for ventilation
Porch

What will be in the Community center?

The Community Building will be roughly 2,500 square feet
Full kitchen with community pots, pans, dishes, and utensils
Food storage as well as multiple fridges
Multipurpose room (with TV and regular planned activities)
Large dining area
2 bathrooms and 1 bathtub (they have bathrooms and showers in their units)
Rotating library
Staff offices – Program Manager, Case Manager, and Americorps VISTA

How many homes will you have?

- We will have 30 tiny homes and 1 community center.
- The Shelton Veterans Village will have a slightly different design than our other villages. It will have 7-4plexes and 1-duplex. This not only helps with cost, but will also offer more personal mini-communities of support for each resident.

How does rent work?

All residents pay 30% of their income (earned income and/or disability, retirement, etc.). This 30% is based off of the standard for affordable housing.
We are hoping to receive Project Based Vouchers from the Bremerton Housing Authority to supplement our rent. Residents pay 30% of their income and the BHA supplements the rest.
If a resident has zero income and a voucher, they pay a $50 minimum. If a resident has zero income and does not have a voucher, they pay zero until they are able to earn an income.

What will be offered at the village?

We will 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 plan to offer: 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 provide Recovery Housing and will not allow drugs or alcohol at the village.
Addiction is a disease. We realize that it is a process and not everyone succeeds the first time. 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 or is struggling, 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 eventually be asked to leave. This is the LAST resort as we strive to provide a supportive atmosphere and to keep people housed.

What will it cost?

We were awarded $3 million in the state capital budget to specifically build a veterans village in Shelton. The $3 million will pay for all development costs, infrastructure, materials, labor, the community building, permits, fees, required road improvements, land and services etc.).
We do not have final costs yet because we are still working on bids for the community center and cottages.

Where did the money come from?

Quixote Communities was awarded $3 million in the state capital budget, which came through the state Department of Commerce’s Housing Trust Fund
Federal Home Loan Bank -- $700,000
Mason County -- $190,000

Why are there homeless veterans?

In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks. Additionally, military occupations and training are not always transferable to the civilian workforce, placing some veterans at a disadvantage when competing for employment (2).

Can I visit Quixote Village in Olympia to see what it’s like?

UPDATE - We are currently not offering tours during Covid-19. We hope to offer tours once it is safe again.
We offer tours every third Thursday of the month at 2pm. Sign up for the tour by emailing olympiapm@quixotecommunities.org or calling (360) 338-0451.
We recommend a donation of $10 to tour the village. No one will be turned away for failure to pay. As a small nonprofit, community support really helps!
As a reminder, the village is a private residence. The community building 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.

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