Ann Arbor officially opened the doors to its first permanent supportive tiny home village for homeless veterans Wednesday, welcoming the first 18 residents into a newly constructed 36-unit community on the city’s east side that pairs affordable micro-housing with comprehensive wraparound services designed to help veterans achieve long-term housing stability.

The Ann Arbor Veterans Village, developed through a partnership between the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and the nonprofit Housing Access Washtenaw, sits on a 1.4-acre city-owned parcel near Platt Road. Each tiny home measures 200 square feet and includes a full bathroom, kitchen, sleeping loft, heating, and high-speed internet access. A central community building houses case management offices, a computer lab, a community kitchen, and meeting rooms.

“We know that housing is health care,” said Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor at Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Every veteran who walks through that door tonight deserves a stable, dignified place to heal, rebuild, and reconnect with their community.”

The project was funded through a combination of sources including $4.2 million from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Grant and Per Diem Program, $2.1 million in Washtenaw County ARPA allocations, $1.8 million from a state housing assistance grant, and $600,000 in private philanthropic support. Construction was completed in eight months, beating the original 12-month timeline.

Residents of the village will have access to VA mental health services, substance use treatment, job placement assistance through Michigan Works, and peer support specialists — many of whom are veterans themselves who have successfully navigated the transition from homelessness to stable housing.

Of the 36 units, 24 will serve as permanent housing and 12 will function as transitional housing for veterans working toward community placement. Washtenaw County’s community mental health department will provide 24-hour support staffing on site five days per week.

Ann Arbor currently has approximately 140 veterans experiencing homelessness on any given night, according to the most recent point-in-time count. Housing advocates said the village represented a significant but partial step toward the city’s goal of reaching functional zero veteran homelessness by the end of 2027.