Sioux Falls opened 25 tiny homes for veterans who were homeless

The Veterans Community Project village is finished after five years. One of its newest residents is an 80-year-old who had been without a home for 11 years.

Verified · Source: SDPBOct 1, 2026 · 1 min read

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Water flowing over pink quartzite rocks at Falls Park in Sioux Falls — Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The veterans village is not pictured. Richard N Horne / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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The Veterans Community Project in Sioux Falls cut the ribbon on September 30, finishing a village of 25 tiny homes with support services on site, South Dakota Public Broadcasting reported. The project took about five years.

Co-founder and CEO Brian Meyer said the point is having people nearby who notice when a veteran is struggling and help with the next step. "Buildings don't save people, people save people," he said.

Executive director Jim Linn told the crowd about the newest resident, Gary, an 80-year-old National Guard veteran who had been homeless for 11 years. On move-in day he was late and wasn't answering his phone. He had been taking one last nap in his car under his favorite tree in the park. He showed up, moved in, and Linn said he is doing great.