(From Watered Gardens Ministries)Watered Gardens Ministries will host a groundbreaking event for Freedom Village, a permanent supportive tiny home community, on September 4, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The groundbreaking will take place across the road from 889 E. 12th St. The event will include remarks from Watered Gardens Executive Director James Whitford and Watered Gardens Board President Talon Maningas.
Freedom Village is phase one of the two-phase Take Courage Capital Campaign. Through Take Courage, Watered Gardens is addressing needs that the organization has identified through years of working closely with people experiencing poverty in the Joplin community.
There is a growing demographic of people who are truly disabled and chronically homeless. Many of these individuals are unable to work and can’t afford rent, leaving them with options like bouncing between shelters and the streets or waiting for government housing.
Freedom Village is designed to provide a permanent, supportive and dignified housing option for these individuals. The first phase of the community will include 24 tiny homes and a community center, with an anticipated opening in spring 2027. Once completed, the community will eventually include 55 tiny homes.
“I was just talking with a guy this morning, his name is Jim. He is 68 years old, and he's been on the streets for quite a while, but he was explaining to me where he’s been sleeping; behind this building… what excites me the most is the thought of Jim having a dignified place to live.”
– Marsha Whitford, Watered Gardens Co-founder
Event registration: https://forms.gle/dBpVYuZenC9xnYYQ6
Watered Gardens is a nonprofit organization that works to alleviate poverty, both physical and spiritual. Across Joplin, Watered Gardens has four main locations where it serves people.
Most people’s first point of contact, the Outreach Center, offers shelter beds, meals, showers, and a food pantry. The Worth Shop provides people the opportunity to partner for their resources, which offers them a deeper sense of purpose.
The Washington Family Hope Center provides women and their children a place to stay while they find stability. Then, the Forge Program is a long-term residential program for men who have been walking troubled paths and desire a new way forward.
2 comments:
I wish them luck and I hope that this project has an effect. I also hope that this does not become a HQ for crime and drug use, representing roughly 25% of total crime in Joplin, similar to the Kentucky Ave. facility.
I have to second the thoughts of 9:31AM. I hope that this project can become an example of how you can build something that these people will take care of and not just use to take advantage of this Project and continue their potential Crime and Drug Use out of it! Projects for the Homeless throughout the United States have Failed Miserably in the Past, not because they weren't a good idea, but because these people weren't willing to change and give Up on their Drugs or other Addictions, they could not change their Criminal Mindsets and Outlook on Life. I do again Wish Watered Gardens all the Best - But - Human Nature is hard to Change - all you have to do is look at the Millions of People that would rather be on Governmental Rolls - Section 8 Housing, SNAP Benefits, Medicaid Benefits, Etc., - Who are just too LAZY and will not go out and get a JOB - They would rather live off the Hardworking Taxpayers than have Self-Respect for themselves. Good Luck Though!
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