Regional need
A 2026 one-night count recorded 9,726 people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County, with 47% counted as unsheltered, according to the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care. The figure is a single-night snapshot and does not represent everyone who experiences homelessness over the course of a year.
The Mesa development
Eden Village of Arizona says its parent organization, John 1334 Ministries, bought a 1.57-acre Mesa property for 21 tiny homes intended for chronically homeless residents. The organization's published specifications describe homes of up to 476 square feet, with one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen, a living area and a front porch, according to Eden Village of Arizona.
An earlier ABC15 report placed the site along North Alma School Road. The station's more recent report said construction framing was visible and organizers were aiming for a February ribbon cutting.
Financing and services
According to ABC15, Blanford Homes is donating the project's labor and building materials. The report also said the development is being financed without tax dollars. An earlier ABC15 report attributed roughly $2.6 million in private fundraising to the project.
ABC15 also reported that Eden Village plans to work with Circle the City to provide physical and mental health care. The same report said residents found using illegal drugs would be required to enter substance-abuse treatment or leave the property.
La Mesa Ministries estimates monthly rent at about $400, including utilities, and says the community will use resident volunteer work as part of its operating model. The ministry describes the development as permanent supportive housing for disabled residents and says its amenities will include shared community and service spaces, according to its Eden Village project description.
Origins and next steps
The Eden Village model began in Springfield, Missouri, in 2018. An account by Invisible People described the Missouri community's use of a former mobile-home-park setting and existing zoning rules for tiny homes. Eden Village of Arizona says its Mesa project is based on that model.
Organizers told ABC15 that applications were expected to open in December. The station also reported that planners were working with the City of Mesa to find a site for a possible second village.
