A new tiny home project in Des Moines, Iowa, will offer rents starting at $300 a month, but will not be open to the general public. The community, called Joppa Village, was designed for chronically homeless people and seeks to combine stable housing, medical services and social support in the same place.

The initiative comes at a time when the cost of housing continues to be a concern in various cities in the United States. Although Iowa does not usually appear among the states most associated with the rental crisis, the project sparked interest for its model: small houses, low rent and community services for people who have been without a permanent home for a long time.

As reported by the New York Post, Joppa Village will have 54 furnished small homes in Des Moines, with units ranging from 192 to 384 square feet. Each house will have a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, and rent will start at $300 per month. The project will be aimed exclusively at people in chronic destitution.

What will Joppa Village be like?

The community will not function just as a collection of small houses. It will also have common spaces and support services. A former school from the late 19th century will be converted into a community center with a gym, chapel, kitchen, dining room, storage and free medical care, according to the report.

The idea is to offer more than just a roof. The model seeks to provide stability to people who have lived on the streets or in very precarious housing situations for long periods. Therefore, in addition to the homes, the project will incorporate social support and resources within the same property.

Who can live there

This point is key: rentals starting at $300 will not be available to anyone looking for a cheap rental in Iowa. The project is focused on chronically homeless people.

That detail avoids confusion. Amid the high cost of rents, a rent of $300 a month may sound like an open opportunity, but in this case it is a social initiative aimed at a specific group of the population.

Why the Latin community may be interested

Although Iowa does not have the same Latino presence as states like California, Texas or Florida, it does have a significant and growing Hispanic community. According to Census data, Iowa is 7.9% Hispanic or Latino, while in Des Moines the proportion is much higher: 16.3% of the local population.

That difference makes the topic relevant for Hispanic readers. Des Moines has a significant Latino community, linked to jobs in services, construction, food, commerce and other urban sectors. DataUSA also estimates that the city has about 34,600 Hispanic or Latino residents, equivalent to 16.3% of its population.

Additionally, the Latino population has grown strongly in Iowa in recent decades. Iowa PBS noted that Hispanics or Latinos are the largest non-white population in the state and have increased more than 50% since 2010.

A model against the housing crisis

Tiny home projects have been presented in several cities in the United States as an alternative to address extreme situations of homelessness. They do not solve the housing crisis on their own, but they can offer a concrete response for people who need stability, services and a supported environment.

In the case of Joppa Village, the appeal is in the combination of low rent, private spaces and community support. The units will be small, but they will be designed to offer basic independence: your own place to sleep, bathe, store belongings and do simple cooking.

When could it open?

The project is still in development and is part of a local strategy to expand housing options for homeless people. Its progress will be closely followed because it could become a replicable model in other medium-sized cities in the United States.