South Carolina church to build tiny village for homeless women

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A South Carolina church is moving forward with plans to create a village of tiny homes to help homeless women.

First Baptist Spartanburg plans to transform land on the city’s Northside into transitional housing for single homeless women, local news outlets reported.

“They in, our opinion, are the most easily victimized of the population on the street,” said Steve Wise, Minister of Ministries for First Spartanburg Baptist.

United Way of the Piedmont said there’s a shortage of places for homeless women to stay in the Spartanburg area.

“Women often are having to double up, couch surf,” Hannah Jarrett, director of Financial Stability Strategy for United Way of the Piedmont, said. “They might even be taken advantage of in order to secure a place to live because there aren’t as many options for them.”

First Baptist Spartanburg’s goal is to build 20 tiny homes. The church says each woman in the program would get their own.

The plan still needs approval by Spartanburg’s Design Review Board.

City Councilwoman Erica Brown represents the Northside and said she already supports the project.

“It’s kind of important for us to think outside the box,” Brown said. “I think this project will give us an idea and a sense of how successful it can possibly be and hopefully we’ll see more projects like this around our community.”

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