A new housing project designed to support veterans experiencing housing insecurity is moving forward in North Platte, with community leaders, volunteers and veterans working together to create what organizers hope will become a long-term solution for those who served.
Honor Homes at Patty’s Place, organized through the Connection Homeless Shelter, will create a small village of tiny homes for veterans near the shelter property at 413 East 5th Street. The project will eventually include eight buildings along with support services aimed at helping veterans maintain stable housing and rebuild independence.
Micaela Wuehler, a volunteer with the project, said the idea grew out of conversations led by Connection Homeless Shelter Executive Director Ashley Lewis after noticing how many veterans were among the shelter’s clients.
“Veterans have a little unique dynamic that they bring to our community,” Wuehler said. “They have put their lives on the line, raised their hand, willing to sacrifice everything for us. And we recognized that and felt like it was our desire and duty to do something to help the home-insecure veterans in our community.”
The project is designed to provide long-term housing rather than temporary shelter. Organizers said veterans living in the homes would contribute 30% of their monthly income toward housing costs while utilities would be covered through the program.
“It’s not a time-out situation where they can only stay for a year and then they time out and have to move on,” Vietnam-era veteran Charlie Morland said. “That’s not the case here.”
Morland, a longtime North Platte plumber, became involved after learning about the project through the Lincoln Connection. He now oversees much of the construction planning for the development.
“I was a plumber for 54 years in North Platte here and just wanted to help,” Morland said. “So I kind of ended up on the board and going to oversee the construction of the houses.”
Construction activity is expected to begin soon, with excavation and concrete work planned in the coming days.
“The service has instilled a brotherhood in me that will never go away,” Morland said. “And I love my brothers.”
Wuehler said the project has relied heavily on partnerships throughout the community, including support from the City of North Platte, Lincoln County, local churches, Mid-Plains Community College and veterans organizations.
Mid-Plains Community College’s Ready to Work program has already helped construct several of the homes. Organizers recently adjusted the building process so homes will now be assembled onsite in panels rather than transported fully completed.
“They’re gonna build it in panels,” Wuehler explained. “And then the panels will be assembled onsite, which will help reduce the cost.”
Organizers say volunteers and in-kind donations will continue to play a major role as the project moves forward, especially in skilled trades such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing, painting and carpentry.
“Every trade that’s needed to build a house, we need volunteers for that,” Morland said.
The project’s name honors Patty Evans, whose property will become the site of the veteran housing village.
Organizers hope to complete the first phase of the project by the end of the year and believe it could eventually serve as a model for other Nebraska communities looking to support veterans facing housing instability.
“Hopefully this is just a small snippet of what can happen in the future in North Platte,” Morland said. Even on a statewide level.