With standing room only, the Mountain Home Planning Commission met Monday for a discussion about a gated tiny home community, Eden Village, but in the end, tabled the proposal so the presenters can gather more information and look at alternate sites.
Eden Village is a proposed project that would assist chronically homeless and disabled people by providing a permanent residence to live in. The ADA compliant homes would provide around 400 square feet of living space. Residents would be charged approximately $300 per month for rent and are on a month-to-month auto-renewing lease with a 10-day notice.
Many concerned community members attended the meeting in opposition to the project. Decreased property values, proximity to schools, drug and crime concerns, and overall location of the project were the biggest issues expressed. Project presenters were faced with many questions of safety and supervision of the residents. While staff is only onsite 8-5 Monday through Friday, 24-hour surveillance would be in place and easily accessible to staff. Many felt it was a good idea, just not the right location.
Residents of Eden Village are subject to a background check through the FBI, and they do not rent to sex offenders. There are strict community guidelines they must follow, and if they are broken, the resident is asked to leave at the end of the month. The facility is not transitional or rehab housing. Those applying to the property must also have been shown to be homeless in the Mountain Home area for at least a year before they are considered for the program. According to the presenters, residents of Eden Village would not be brought in from other areas. A qualification is they must prove they have been homeless in the community for at least one year, whether consecutive or totaling one year within the last 36 months.
Members of the community asked for the number of homeless people in the area and how many people this would help. At this time, a number was not available. It was stressed this project is not affiliated with the recent task force created by Mountain Home Mayor Hillrey Adams, which was created to address the homeless issues in the area. This is just one way to address a portion of the problem.
The property located at the intersection of Rossi Road and 16th Street is currently under contract.
Since many in attendance agreed they were more concerned on the property location than the project itself, the presenters were open to the idea of finding another location that would be more suitable and proposed to table the discussion, to look at other locations. The commission voted unanimously to table the topic, within a reasonable time, for further considerations, as well as to gather more concrete numbers in which the program would benefit.
Project leaders said they do not care where the community is located. They just want to help, and they hope the community can come together to help the homeless in our area.
The planning commission is appointed by the mayor to insure ordinances are followed when it comes to the construction or changes to a property in the city of Mountain Home.
Eden Village is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Funds collected for rent go back into the project. It is not a government funded program and is supported by donations and private grants.
In addition to Eden Village, the proposal for a landscaping plan on Highway 201 North and a sketch plan for property located on Vermont Drive were approved by the commission.
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