2,016Veterans housed in each proposed village17Villages estimated for the current national need32,782Veterans identified as needing permanent supportive housing$485M–$525MEstimated build-ready cost for one village
Three Vets Organization Story
In 2010, three veterans began discussing the possibility of forming a nonprofit organization focused on housing veterans in need. By 2013, an application had been filed with the California Secretary of State, and within a few months the group received a license to operate as Three Vets Organization (TVO).
To date, the organization has not moved forward under that license.
The Attorney General suspended the license in 2022.
In 2024, the group reviewed the number of veterans in need of housing in each state and identified more than 9,310 veterans in California who need a place to call home. Based on that number, the proposal estimates that California would need at least five Veterans Villages.
2010
Initial Discussion
Three veterans began exploring an approach for housing veterans in need.
2013
Organization Filed
An application was filed with the California Secretary of State, followed by a license to operate TVO.
2022
License Suspended
The Attorney General suspended the license.
2024
Housing Need Reviewed
The group reviewed state-by-state housing needs and identified a major need in California.
Veterans Villages Across America
This proposal offers a different approach to addressing veterans’ housing needs.
It identifies 32,782 veterans in need of permanant supportive housing and suggests locating Veterans Villages on open land near Veterans Administration Medical Center hospitals.
The goal is to place housing close to services so veterans can receive medical care and support without traveling long distances.
The proposal notes that some veterans in Northern California currently travel for three hours to reach services in Sacramento or an additonal hour to travel to San Francisco.
Understanding how large this project is we are reaching out to nonprofits across the nation to ask them to take on a Vetetans Village to help build and then operate once it is opened.
How This Would Be Done
Village Scale
Once the number of veterans to be housed in a single village was determined, the estimated number of villages across the nation became easier to calculate. The current working plan is to house 2,016 veterans in five residential buildings in a single village.
Cost Range
The proposal estimates that it would cost $525,000,000 to build one Veterans Village and prepare it to serve all 2,016 veterans on a daily basis.
Beyond Housing
In addition to residential construction and providing housing, the proposal includes, equipment for each community room, and four to six shop spaces, Several acersof lawn area which will provide for more than housing alone.
There will be a large building which will provide for kitchen spaces and a a large dining hall area.
The idea of building each of these Veterans Villages within a short distance to a VAMC Hospital for care as they need it.
What Americans Could Do to Help
The proposal describes several possible donation approaches that could help fund a single Veterans Village over a two, to four-year period.
$730
One-time donation from an individual donor.
$1.00 per day
A dollar per day over a two year period.
$73.00
One-time donation from each member of a ten-person team.
$30.50 a month
Monthly team donation total, equal to $3.05 per month from each team member for two years.
How many donors are estimated for one village?
The proposal estimates that 719,178 donors would be needed to build one Veterans Village.
How the Numbers Work
Each apartment would measure 28 feet wide by 48 feet long. A village designed to house 2,016 veterans would require 672 three-bedroom apartments.
The housing plan calls for 14 apartments on each side of each floor, four floors per building, and six reinforced-concrete, five-story buildings to house veterans.
In addition to the six residential buildings, the proposal includes four kitchen and dining hall, eight townhouses, four shops, and several acres of green space for outdoor activities.