Fayetteville Nonprofit to Build First Tiny Home Village for Homeless Veterans

Redeploying American Veterans will break ground on Fayetteville's first tiny home village for homeless veterans within six months. City leaders approved the plan. Six one-bedroom homes will be built and furnished.

Veterans make up less than 10% of North Carolina's population. Yet they account for nearly one-fifth of those without homes statewide. Fayetteville has 28 homeless veterans, according to advocacy groups tracking the issue.

Jimmy Plater founded the nonprofit after retiring from the Army. He spent three decades in military service before leaving Fort Bragg in 2015. His experiences pushed him to start this work.

"I retired here at Fort Bragg in 2015, and my family is here. I'm here," Plater told ABC11. "The purpose of RAV is to provide tiny homes for homeless veterans, primarily the ones that are hidden homeless, and to bring them back into our population."

Each home will measure around 400 square feet. Safe housing is just the start. The village will offer mental health support and job training so veterans can rebuild what they've lost.

Officials hope to reduce homelessness and veteran suicide rates while easing the burden on local shelters. Many homeless veterans battle mental health struggles, lack civilian job skills, or face money problems after leaving military service.

"For anyone that has served in the military that is homeless, we owe them a debt of gratitude," Plater said. "Most of them didn't ask to be homeless due to circumstances."

Veterans should move into the village by 2027. Construction will start in the coming months at the approved site.