Community Roots Collaborative breaks ground on second village of tiny homes, shelter

Community Roots Collaborative members break ground Wednesday on the O Street Project, the part of the project that will bring seven tiny homes to the property. Photo by Paul Valencia

O Street Project will have 20 separative living spaces, including seven tiny homes

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It is a beautiful thing, giving someone a second chance, an opportunity to feel safe, a moment to regain their focus.

That is what Community Roots Collaborative is trying to accomplish with its villages of tiny homes and Oxford housing, designed to bring people from the streets into permanent housing.

“We’re trying to make beautiful things. We have that sole purpose of building beautiful things,” said Dan Whitely, president of the board of directors for Community Roots Collaborative. “When you build beautiful things, beautiful outcomes happen. Beautiful relationships. Beautiful people coming together. That is what has occurred at Fruit Valley Terrace, and this is what’s going to happen here. We’re going to build a beautiful village and people are going to have beautiful lives.”

Whitely was speaking Wednesday at the groundbreaking of Community Roots’ latest project: O Street in Vancouver.

A former Sikh temple has been converted into a home that will have 13 separate living spaces,, along with a full kitchen and commons area. The home most likely will be ready by the end of the month. Also on the property, seven tiny homes will be built — likely by the end of the year — for a total of 20 housing units.

This is Community Roots’ second such village. The Fruit Valley Terrace opened in the fall of 2021,

“They’re meant to give people a second chance, a soft landing of sorts, and getting them back on their feet,” Whitely said.

The first village has been a tremendous success.

“Residents have taken themselves from being on the streets for years, to dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, and bouncing back and getting jobs, buying homes,” Whitely said.

“It seems to be working,” he added. “When you give somebody a home where they can work on their problems, it makes things a lot easier than having them on the streets.”

A former Sikh Temple has been converted into housing with 13 separate living spaces. That house is expected to be available by the end of May. Then there will be seven tiny homes added to the property, all courtesy of the Community Roots Collaborative. Photo by Paul Valencia

Brothers Dave and Nick Campos bought the property at 3600 O Street and modified the temple into the housing structure. Dave Campos appreciates the help of so many, including the city, for allowing this project to advance.

“I think it’s important for people who are in the industry to see that they can make a change,” Campos said.

“I think we need to find unique and creative solutions,” he added.

This property is one solution.

Whitely said the mission is to come up with affordable housing solutions through developments such as this one.

That first one was special, but this one brings a different perspective to all involved.

“Getting a second project is vital to the concept,” Whitely said. “The first one, people could say it was fly-by-night, or ‘You got lucky.’ The second one, we’ve proven the concept works.”

Note: Community Roots Collaborative is hosting a fundraising breakfast event on July 14 at the AC Waterfront Hotel. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Email: info@c-roots.org for more information. The Community Roots Collaborative website can be found here: https://www.c-roots.org/