International Code Council Annual Conference Attendees Volunteer at Veterans Tiny Home Village

Each year during its Annual Conference, International Code Council members participate in a volunteer outing to help leave an impact on the local community.

This year brought record-breaking volunteer numbers and provided the opportunity to work in a tiny home village. Over 50 volunteers from across the country mobilized to help provide veterans with suitable housing and the tools they need to get back on their feet.

Volunteer Outing at Tiny Home Village

On Sunday, October 8, 2023, Code Council Annual Conference attendees had the opportunity to volunteer at the Veterans Community Project (VCP) campus.

Volunteers were needed to aid in cleaning up the tiny home village that provides veterans with the tools necessary to return to a stable, prosperous and independent life.

“Volunteering a day to the Veterans Community Project was a no-brainer,” said Jessie Sorensen, Code Council Technical Staff BPD. “My father served along with many other family members and friends. The efforts and services VCP provides are second to none. Every detail that goes into a Veteran’s tiny home and the village is carefully thought out, planned and executed to meet any need you can think of for a veteran.  If you ever get a chance to volunteer or see the powerful impact a Veterans Tiny home village has, please do, it will leave you will a full heart.” 

The tiny homes in VCP Village offer Veterans a sense of security, and the opportunity to reintegrate into the community at their own pace. Each transitional home is pet-friendly and fully furnished with everything a Veteran may need.

The St. Louis, Missouri, location, built in September 2021, is located on a nearly four-acre property and includes a village of 50 tiny houses and an outreach center to provide walk-in support services for any Veteran in the area. Each tiny house was placed inwardly facing to create a better sense of community and the houses were designed to help alleviate any potential distress. For example, the houses all have open floor plans to allow Veterans to see the entire home and utilize strategic window placement.

Volunteers who arrived at VCP on Sunday spent their time beautifying the grounds of the community and learning about the mission of the organization.

“For me, it really does take a community. It takes everyone doing their part, and having the support of the city we are in is tremendous,” said VCP Executive Director Rebecca Tallman.

Veterans Community Project Tiny Home Village

VCP is a non-profit organization that was first established in Kansas City, Missouri by a group of four combat Veterans. Driven by a desire to help other Veterans in need, these individuals jotted down their ideas on a napkin and marked out a path on a driveway with duct tape to initiate the planning of the VCP vision.

Bryan Meyer, U.S. Marine Corps; Brandonn Mixon, U.S. Army; Vincent Morales, U.S. Army; and Mark Solomon, U.S. Navy, founded VCP in 2016. Since then, it has since spread its work of serving at-risk and homeless Veterans across the U.S. starting with Longmont, Colorado; St. Louis, Missouri; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Since its establishment, 85 percent of Veterans who stayed in VCP Village have successfully transitioned to sustainable, long-term housing of their own. Additionally, hundreds more have averted the threat of homelessness by utilizing VCP case management and emergency assistance funds through the VCP Outreach Center.

Military Families Career Path Program

This year’s volunteering event was hosted by the Code Council’s Military Families Career Path Program. This program helps veterans who are transitioning to civilian life and military family members learn more about building safety career opportunities. 

To learn more about the Code Council’s Military Families Career Path Program, click here.