Garman Homes is partnering with XDS, a nonprofit operating out of Pittsboro, North Carolina, to build a new community providing affordable housing for people with mental illness and other health conditions living on a fixed income.
The Tiny Homes Village, nestled on the 40-acre grounds of Chatham County’s The Farm at Penny Lane, is going to be comprised of 15 affordable homes, five of which are reserved for veterans with chronic health conditions.
“It’s been a longtime dream of mine to build attractive, small, affordable homes in a close-knit community where the residents can comfortably interact with one another,” says Thava Mahadevan, founder of XDS and director of operations at UNC’s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health. “Garman Homes has been the perfect home building partner, as we both believe building with passion and driving people together is the key to marrying housing and health care.”
Mahadevan is leveraging his decades of expertise working in the field of mental health to optimize residents’ health and well-being through every inch of the tiny homes’ design. From the color schemes to the strategically placed doors and windows for natural light, the team has crafted each floor plan to invoke feelings of stability and provide a sense of privacy for residents. Each home will be about 400 square feet and built on a permanent foundation.
In addition, the village will provide residents with access to healthy food, meaningful daily activities, transportation, and physical and behavioral health services. The community amenities, including a clubhouse, walking trails, an organic farm, and an outdoor pavilion, will foster interactions and a strong support system among residents.
“The Tiny Homes Village is a revolutionary concept with the power to inspire home builders across the country to build inclusive communities within their development footprint,” says Rebecca McAdoo, regional president of Garman Homes. “Not only are we thrilled to be a part of this project, but we’re grateful for the opportunity to influence the future of home building in North Carolina and beyond.”
The demonstration project is made possible through a handful of other public and private partnerships between the UNC School of Social Work, NC State College of Design, Alliance Health, and Chatham County.
Garman will soon launch a swift, four-phase buildout and will finish construction in summer 2023. Following the completion of construction, the builder will continue to provide statewide, affordable housing by unveiling a mixed-income community in northern Chapel Hill, Weavers Grove, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
