A small residential village that offers free rent to its tenants is ready to open in just a few hours, with just a few spaces left.
Hope the Mission, the organization behind the creation of the community, confirmed that it would begin accepting residents by April 22.
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The nonprofit created the venture in Oildale, Calif., about three miles from downtown Bakersfield, to help a growing homeless population, according to the local NBC affiliate. KGET.
Data collected in the surrounding Kern County area revealed that at least 2,000 residents were experiencing homelessness last year.
About 20%, or about 400 people, came directly from Oildale.
In early March, the small home village had its opening ceremony, but remained empty while preparations were finalized for potential tenants.
Now it’s ready, with Hope the Mission noting that it would begin accepting five tenants at a time in the small home village every day starting Monday.
In total, organization officials said it would take about two weeks to fill the community.
This is done to help with acclimatization and so that a social worker can assist each resident as needed.
Two other nonprofit organizations, Flood Ministries and Church Without Walls, assisted the project in creating a list of residents who need to remain in the village.
So far, about 90 names have been noted for just 50 available units in the community, according to KGET.
The homes are limited to single residents or couples only, according to ABC affiliate KERO-TV.
Rent is free for residents, with utilities and other basic needs provided – along with food and a community center.
There will also be 24-hour security and locks on each small residential unit for the safety of residents.
The village is also surrounded by a fence, with only one entrance and one exit.
RULES TO REMEMBER
Rowan Vansleve, president of Hope the Mission, confirmed that there would also be a brief entry process for residents when they begin arriving on April 22.
“As soon as you pass through security, we will place all of your clothes in a hot box to kill any bacteria,” he told the news station.
“Then you are taken to the community center where you can eat, and we want them to eat until they are full.”
Vansleve also noted a few other rules for residents.
For one, the small home community has a curfew with work-related exceptions.
The use of alcohol or drugs is also not permitted, and a single pet is permitted per family, with food provided.
Community photos show inspiring messages on the doors of each unit, with the aim of giving tenants the help they need to secure permanent residents of their own.
Similar projects are being launched in cities across the United States to combat homelessness and help Americans get back on their feet.
For more related content, check out The US Sun’s coverage of a controversial tiny home community offering free rent and one crucial rule residents must follow.
The US Sun also published the story about the requirements residents must meet to stay in a small hometown in New York.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
