GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — A tiny home village in Glynn County designed to assist the homeless is facing challenges filling its units due to a lack of funding.
The Grove at Correll Commons, which opened in June, has only 15 out of its 60 homes occupied, and the remaining units sit empty while the organization waits for crucial U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development vouchers from the Brunswick Housing Authority.
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Despite offering valuable services like a library, computer room, and clinic, the nonprofit behind the project, Hand in Hand of Glynn, is unable to house more people due to the delay. As individuals continue to live on the streets, the nonprofit is looking for other solutions to sustain the project.
Hand in Hand of Glynn was founded by a group of women who raised $6.8 million in private funding to build the 60 tiny homes. The organization applied for a 20-year project-based voucher agreement with the Brunswick Housing Authority, which was initially approved early in 2024.
However, the Housing Authority later reversed its decision.
John Williams, President of Hand in Hand of Glynn, explains, “The Housing Authority decided that it wasn’t in their best interest to get in bed with us for 20 years.”
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The Housing Authority reportedly cited concerns over the nonprofit’s track record, stating they didn’t believe the organization could successfully manage the project for such a long term.
“They didn’t want to be on the hook for 20 years with vouchers they couldn’t do anything with,” Williams said.
As a result, the Housing Authority offered just 10 tenant vouchers, with more still pending. But since that initial approval, the flow of new vouchers has come to a halt, leaving 45 homes empty.
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“We got the first 10 in, and then, of course, something happened with issues going on down there, and they halted issuing new vouchers,” Williams said.
To keep the project afloat, Hand in Hand of Glynn has been forced to look for alternative funding sources. In addition to applying for grants, they’ve begun charging a $700 base rent to help cover operational costs. However, Williams stresses that this is not a sustainable solution in the long run.
“Someone made a decision to stop the Housing Authority from being an issue. Someone needs to make a decision and help get these people off the streets while they’re freezing out there in the cold,” Williams said.
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Action News Jax reached out to HUD, the Brunswick Housing Authority, and the mayor’s office for comment, but no one returned our calls.
Williams said Hand in Hand of Glynn is still exploring other funding options, but the project’s future remains uncertain without the crucial project-based vouchers from the Housing Authority.
Until then, 45 homes remain empty, and many homeless individuals continue to wait for the opportunity to move into safe, stable housing.
If you would like to help support this organization’s mission, you can donate by going to their website: https://handinhandofglynn.org/
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