Dignity Village opens in Modesto with 42 tiny homes. A place to stop the downhill slide
A 42-unit complex providing interim housing for people battling homelessness and other challenges has opened in Modesto.
Ceremonies were held Thursday for Dignity Village, at the corner of Ninth and E streets, and the first residents will start moving in this weekend.
Officials said the 42 tiny houses will provide a safe and comfortable home for adults while they recover from substance use and mental health disorders. The housing program will include services and support to help them with their individual challenges.
Stanislaus County and the city of Modesto were partners in the project, which also engaged community groups in preparing the units for the first tenants. Volunteers and local groups adopted cabins and, on March 22, decorated the small units without knowing who would occupy them.
A team of case managers and social workers from the Stanislaus County Public Defender’s Office adopted a cabin and brought in toiletries, pictures, curtains, pillows and a welcome mat.
The unit was fresh off construction, so the team first wiped away the dust on the ceiling and the floor.
“If you have been on the streets for a long time, it’s a rough transition at first,” said Shelli Margarite, a client support manager who posed for a picture with co-workers at the cabin. “We really wanted to make it a home.” Mayor Sue Zwahlen expressed hope that Dignity Village can make a difference as the city grapples with the homeless crisis. “Having a roof over their heads gives them a real chance for recovery and hope for a better tomorrow,” Zwahlen said.
The county and Modesto collaborated with Dignity Moves to develop the complex on city-owned property after Stanislaus County was awarded more than $3 million in state Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program funds in June 2023.
The fenced complex has toilets, showers, dining areas, offices, laundry, social areas and a dog run. Residents will stay in the interim housing for three to six months until ready for the next step to permanent housing.
Ruben Imperial, director of county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, said those participating in Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court will have priority for some housing units as clients comply with treatment plans for mental disorders.For participants in CARE Court, the state program known for court-supervised treatment of adults with schizophrenic disorders, access to housing is considered essential. But Dignity Village also will house adults getting substance use therapy through Senate Bill 43 and other behavioral health programs.