A 15-unit tiny home village is on track for Marietta, with organizers hoping to give local students and their families experiencing homelessness something they have not had in a while: a stable address. Emmanuel’s Village, planned for land behind Glory Haus on Cobb Parkway, could break ground this summer if fundraising and permitting stay on schedule. Families would be offered transitional stays of roughly 12 to 18 months, paired with case management and wraparound services meant to help them move into permanent housing.
Who’s behind the plan
Glory Haus founder Molly Holm is spearheading the project alongside a coalition of local nonprofits, including MUST Ministries and Family Promise of Cobb County. Marietta officials signed off on key zoning variances for the lot in December, clearing a major regulatory hurdle, according to WSB‑TV. Plans call for 15 tiny homes arranged around a community center, playground and garden, with each unit equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, lofted beds and internet access. Organizers say construction could begin by summer if they can close the remaining funding gap, FOX 5 Atlanta has reported.
Design and services
According to project materials, Emmanuel’s Village is planning 24- to 32-foot homes with two lofts, a full bathroom, a galley kitchen and an in-unit washer and dryer. The site layout includes a shared community center and a designated play area for kids. The project’s website lists a fundraising goal of roughly $3.2 million, along with commitments and in-kind support already secured. Emmanuel’s Village notes that site development, including utility hookups and sewer work, is one of the biggest line items and a major reason the overall budget has climbed.
Funding and timeline
Organizers say they have raised about $1 million independently and are now applying for $2 million from a new state homelessness grant that could close the largest gap, according to Atlanta News First. That outlet reports Governor Brian Kemp created a $50 million pool for homelessness programs this year that local communities can tap into. If that grant comes through and permits keep moving, leaders say the homes could be ready in roughly a year.
Who would qualify
Marietta City Schools will handle referrals through the district’s Homeless Liaison under the federal McKinney‑Vento framework, according to the district’s enrollment information. Local coverage has put the number of unhoused students in the hundreds. FOX 5 Atlanta has estimated that roughly 500 Marietta students are experiencing housing instability, a number organizers point to as evidence that targeted transitional housing is overdue. Families selected for Emmanuel’s Village are expected to receive case management and help locating longer-term housing while children remain enrolled in their current schools.
Site logistics and next steps
City documents and local reporting show the triangular parcel sits behind the Glory Haus warehouse and was purchased from the Georgia Department of Transportation in 2023. Planners cautioned that the lot’s awkward footprint, along with its proximity to a railroad and a power line easement, creates engineering challenges, WSB‑TV reported. Organizers say much of the remaining roughly $800,000 needed for the site is tied to boring a sewer line under US‑41 and Cobb Parkway and handling other infrastructure work that does not come with a standard tiny home purchase, according to Emmanuel’s Village. The group is urging churches and private donors to “adopt” individual homes and is collecting contributions through local fundraising partners.
Glory Haus has already turned community enthusiasm into cash, including through its “Pickles with a Purpose” fundraiser, and organizers say local donors will be critical if the village is to open by summer, per Glory Haus. Marietta families who believe they may qualify are encouraged to contact their school’s homeless liaison or the district’s student services office to learn about referrals. For now, Emmanuel’s Village remains a homegrown effort that organizers say could offer dozens of children a quieter place to sleep, study and grow while their families work to regain their footing.
