Walnut Creek Church Opens New Tiny Home Village for Unhoused Seniors
Aerial view captures the newly constructed village at Grace Presbyterian Church of Walnut Creek, showcasing the modern architectural design with its varying rooflines and thoughtfully planned shared outdoor spaces. Photo by Lisa Vorderbrueggen|BIA Bay Area
With community partnership, six units of permanent supportive housing for seniors experiencing homelessness have been built on the campus of Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek. This initiative, named Hope Village, was born when Rev. Mark Burnham and church parishioners responded to a call from the Walnut Creek Homeless Task Force to help address the pressing need for affordable housing in their city.
Nestled among trees beside a peaceful creek and near public transit, the village reflects true collaboration. Hope Solutions, a Contra Costa nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness, provides on-site case management and support services. HomeAid Northern California, a local affiliate of HomeAid, a national nonprofit that mobilizes the homebuilding industry for social good, connected the project with generous industry experts. Through this partnership, companies such as Pulte Homes, Wood Rodgers, Harris & Sloan, and vanderToolen Associates, Inc. offered pro bono services and in-kind donations that lowered costs significantly.
Aerial view showing Hope Village nestled among trees and a nearby creek. Photo by Lisa Vorderbrueggen|BIA Bay Area
The six manufactured micro-homes were built by Firm Foundation Community Housing, designed by Dahlin Group, and constructed at a pop-up factory in Dublin while site work progressed. This innovative process accelerated the timeline and delivered high-quality, fully equipped homes with private bathrooms and kitchens, set on permanent foundations in Walnut Creek. Shelterwerk, an Oakland-based architectural firm, provided site architecture for the project—their second Tiny-Home Village collaboration with Firm Foundation Community Housing after the Fairmont Navigation Center in San Leandro, CA.
Functional and space-saving design of Firm Foundation’s studio unit, featuring a modern kitchen seamlessly integrated with a compact dining area and bedroom. Photo by Lisa Vorderbrueggen|BIA Bay Area
Hope Village was officially dedicated on December 10, 2024. The grand opening was more than a ribbon-cutting—it was a declaration that everyone deserves housing. Church members, city officials, and community partners joined in celebration. On May 16th, UC Berkeley’s embARC summer design academy students added birdhouses, plantings, and a handcrafted village map, further enhancing the welcoming environment.
embARC volunteers gathered around the Hope Village map they created.
Today, six seniors have a stable and dignified place to call home at Hope Village, thanks to this unique approach and collaboration. The project stands as an example of how a faith community, service providers, and industry partners can come together to create lasting solutions for homelessness.
Accessible units featuring a wide ramp and a private patio area. Photo by Lisa Vorderbrueggen|BIA Bay Area
We are immensely thankful to the many industry sponsors who contributed to the project's success:
Advanced Window Systems, American Underground Contractors, Barbosa Cabinets, Benicia Plumbing, BFS, Bigge Crane and Rigging Co., Budget Electric, California Living & Energy, Capital City Drywall, Chrisp Co., Citadel Roofing and Solar, Coastal Lumber, EBM Construction Inc., Goodfellow Bros Inc, Green Valley Landscape, HomeSite Services, Hutton Lovewell Inc., J&J Quality Door Inc., Janco Inc., Marketshare Inc., Murga Strange & Chalmers, OJ Insulation, Olberding Environmental Inc., Pinnacle Lighting and Designs Inc., Sanco Pipelines, Sherwin Williams, Signal Heating and Air, Thorpe Design Inc., Timberworks Construction, Whirlpool
