The Lack of Affordable Housing in the Daytona Beach Area is Causing Many Vulnerable Senior Citizens and Veterans to Face Immanent Homelessness

Elderly senior man at affordable housing tiny home village as planned for Daytona - Volusia Florida

Stable, Affordable Housing Helps People Overcome Housing Insecurity

We have a vision and are on a faith led mission to use our Volusia/Flagler area nonprofit leadership and homeless advocacy experience to establish a Daytona Beach area Tiny Home Village. This will provide truly affordable housing rentals to people in our Daytona Beach area community.

There are few realistic alternative housing options for many very low income veterans and elderly people facing homelessness. Government Affordable Housing programs do not fill this gap, take years to establish, face NIMBY objections and are not affordable for many people.

Our Nonprofit Business Model

We are primarily funded by donors, faith partners, foundations. Additionally, revenue will be generated onsite by residents through rents and micro businesses. We will not pursue most government grant funding. Because it often restricts innovative programs like ours. What we do need from government are fast tracked zoning approvals and consideration for donated land and infrastructure.

Life in the Tiny Home Village

Our residents will live a simple but dignified life, pay an income based rent of between $300 and $450 monthly. Moreover, onsite work, guidance, healthcare and worship is planned as well as recreational and social activates.

A Florida Nonprofit Corp & IRS Designated 501c3 Charity

We are working to fund and build a permanent alternative housing tiny home village in our Daytona Beach – Flagler/Volusia County area. Operations will be similar to Community First Village, which we visited in Austin, Texas. Because our area population is only about 20% of Austin, our project has a smaller scope.

We plan to either acquire acreage away from densely populated residential areas or develop an urban infill location. This Tiny Home development is targeting 20 to 30 units at start up and growing to a maximum of 120 units.

You can help by donating, serving on a committee, or simply advocating for our cause. Please, join our mission to provide a dignified, affordable and realistic long term housing solution to low income veterans, seniors and income restricted people. We can prevent their homelessness and provide a safe, comfortable quality of life in our great Daytona Beach community!

Why a Tiny Home Village?

The current need for affordable housing is at a breaking point. Rental housing prices are increasing dramatically. The number of people who live without permanent, sustainable housing is increasing. Simultaneously, the ability to provide adequate housing options is falling. Studies show it is less costly to a community and offers residents a much better quality of life to provide affordable housing than to keep shuffling them through government programs. Traditionally, tax dollars & government bear the brunt of the burden for solving the housing crisis. But despite their best efforts, have come up far short of a working solution.

A Private Nonprofit Affordable Housing Solution

Tiny House Villages are by far the most affordable, immediate, and sustainable model of housing for several reasons: The average basic tiny house costs only around $15,000-$60,000 depending on size and location. Rent based villages are a bargain at $300-$450 per month based on income.

Tiny homes require a minimal amount of land and can be scaled to fit into a variety of spaces. The low buy-in cost and individual nature of these units allows for individual, business, community and church partnerships.

Across the USA, there are dozens of low income affordable housing developments using the village model or cluster homes with a variety of compact residential dwellings around shared community spaces and resources. These cluster village or pocket community models provide significant economic, environmental, and social benefits compared to traditional apartments or single-family houses.

Tiny Home Villages Create a Sense of Community and Serenity

These compact communities combine the privacy and autonomy of a single-family house. Also, providing the greater density and economy associated with an apartment building. However, it replaces hallways and elevators with meandering pathways and common areas. The space between houses creates a medium for casual social interactions, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging among neighbors. Building small footprint homes also reduces material and energy demand during construction, and offers lower maintenance and utility bills for low income veteran and senior residents.

Permanent Affordable Housing Increases Residents Quality of Life

Many veterans, seniors and people with restricted earning ability or fixed income live in their car. Others in group homes, the porch, couch or spare room of a friend or relative. Some stay in shelters, motels, and have no place to call home. Often moving from one temporary housing solution or program to another. Living in constant fear of being displaced.

Without their own door to lock at night, everything they own must go with them. They often have few possessions and live out of a box or suitcase. Without a community that listens, cares, and encourages, many veterans and seniors isolate themselves. A tiny home village creates a solution to these problems, providing a sense of place, safety and community for its residents.

Tiny Homes as Affordable Housing in Volusia County

Please check out this short video from Community First Village. See one example that we are using as we develop our model for a Tiny Home Village here in our own Volusia County community.

The Leadership Team

Chair & Founding Director – Mark Geallis

Mark is currently serving on the City of Daytona Beach Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) and consulting to other nonprofits. Before leading First Step Shelter in 2018-2019 as their first Executive Director, Mark served as ED of Halifax Urban Ministries. He led this regional poverty and homelessness ministry for 3 years after several years as their Director of Development.

After a successful 30-year career as a business owner and leader, Mark decided to focus on helping others. Becoming mission & outreach director of Salty Church in Ormond Beach. Here he blended his business experience and spiritual calling as he entered the nonprofit field of homeless prevention & assistance. He earned a Bachelor’s degree and was ordained through Maranatha Christian College.

Mark is past co-chair of One Voice for Volusia, has served on various United Way Committees. Similarly on the board of the regional Commission on Homelessness & Housing as a community homeless advocate. In 2019, he received the Public Citizen of The Year award from the regional NASW (Natl. Assoc. Of Social Workers).

Treasurer & Director – Selma Barker

Selma has been helping the area’s poor and homeless for many years. She is a former treasurer of Halifax Urban Ministries, where she served for many years. She was the driving force in Southeast Volusia County to open both the Room At The Inn cold weather shelter. Furthermore, she helped start the HUM Community Resource Center-Food pantry.

Her love of music led her to be one of the founders of the Florida Nonprofit known as the Southeast Volusia Community Choir. Selma is also active in the faith community, both by sharing her gift of music and serving in board positions at several area nonprofits.

Selma has had a long distinguished career as an insurance executive and also operates her own consulting and bookkeeping practice in Florida.

Secretary & Director – Chuck Munk

Chuck and his wife, Nancy, are the owners of Central Florida Property Investors. Along with being a licensed Realtor, Chuck brings a variety of experience to our board.

Chuck has been a youth pastor, church planter, an educator, foster-parent and owner of Half Off Books in Orange City. Chuck has been married to Nancy for 36 years. He has 4 adult children and 4 grandchildren. His passion for those experiencing homelessness comes from his personal faith in Jesus Christ and his experiences while growing up.

He states, “There were times when I was growing up when we lived in a tent for an entire summer. As a child I thought this was just camping, but later realized that we were too poor to afford housing.” He further states, “In my current role, I see housing becoming less and less affordable, especially for those who are elderly and living on just Social Security. We are a prosperous nation, and we can solve this problem.”

Director – Nancy Epps

Nancy’s professional life has been in laboratory medicine. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical (Laboratory) Technology from Bethune-Cookman University. She later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs.

Furthermore, she represented the Town of Ponce Inlet as council member and mayor for six years. Since she retired from Bert Fish Medical Center as the Director of Medical Laboratory Services, she has been teaching microbiology to nursing students at Daytona College in Ormond Beach.

Nancy serves many roles in civic organizations. These include the boards of the Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired, Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida. Also, the Greater Daytona Beach chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, and several others. As a member and president of the Ponce Inlet Lions Club, she became aware of the Halifax Urban Ministries’ shelter projects. The club donates to Hope Place Family Shelter annually.

Nancy was one of the very early supporters of the shelter project in Daytona Beach, following several years of growing interest in the plight of the homeless. She was a board member of the Coalition on Homelessness & the Commission on Homelessness and Housing. Nancy is excited about the H2H plans because, as she states, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Director – Jose Alcaraz

Jose was born in Cuba and came to Miami with his parents at the age of four. He graduated from the University of Miami with a BBA degree. Then went on to earn a Graduate Certificate in Accounting. In 1986, he became a CPA.

Jose worked in the banking industry as an Accounting Manager before opening his own accounting practice. He specialized in Small Business clients, administering to their needs. Then providing general accounting, payroll and financial consulting and also serviced individual clients in the area of taxation and financial planning. Jose has also advised several nonprofit organizations.

Jose is a graduate of Leadership Miami, Class of 1992 and served on their board from 1993-2002. Other board service includes: Women in Distress Broward County, Salvation Army Little Havana Chapter and the Theater Lover Community Miami-Dade/Broward County. Additionally, he served as University of Miami Alumni Club – Treasurer 2002-2004 & President in 2005-2006. Similarly, he has served Operation Christmas Child of Samaritan’s Purse as Community Coordinator and Trail Life USA.

In 2018 Jose relocated to Palm Coast, continuing his accounting practice. He is currently active in the area faith community, serving at First Baptist Christian Academy as Treasurer. He also serves as a Deacon at First Baptist Church, Palm Coast. There, he is also a member of the Building Campaign Fundraising Committee.

Director – Elizabeth Ennis

Elizabeth recently completed a contracted position in California providing medical services to the homeless population. Because of her heart for people experiencing homelessness and her strong faith, she now continues her mission here in Central Florida.

Her vision is to help area low income and homeless people by providing mobile health services. Plans are to co-locate the medical-dental vehicle and her offices at the tiny home village to serve our residents. Also using the village as a base of operations to help people throughout our community.

Elizabeth is an experienced Physician Assistant with a demonstrated history of working in the medical practice industry. Skilled in Critical Care, Medical Education, Pediatrics, Pulmonary Medicine, and Emergency Medicine. She is a true healthcare services professional with a Master’s of Science focused on Physician Assistant Studies from University of Florida.

Honorary Adviser – Andre Libert

Andre Libert’s professional career encompassed 40 years in aviation management and marketing. Working with five international airlines and airports in U.S. and abroad.

He has worked and volunteered in homeless shelters; prison ministries, the Special Olympics, and also spent time working with the elderly. Andre has had numerous medical setbacks over the years and said “paying back to the communities I lived in seemed to be just a normal responsibility.”