Richmond has opened a 12-unit tiny home village for unhoused young adults ages 18 to 24, a project that nearly doubles the emergency housing capacity for that age group across all of Contra Costa County. The Richmond Tiny House Village, Farm & Garden sits at 175 23rd Street and 2200 Bissell Avenue, and includes a 13th unit for an on-site resident assistant, a community dining yurt, shared bathrooms, and an urban garden.
Richmondside reports that 13 units in Contra Costa County were targeted for unhoused young adults before this project opened; the village adds 12 resident beds. The scale of that gap helps explain the need for youth-focused housing.
The village is operated by non-profit housing provider Hope Solutions, which staffs the site with a resident assistant and a social worker serving as village manager, according to the Richmond Standard. Residents may stay for a maximum of two years.
A Phased Opening Shaped by Neighborhood Talks
The village did not open at full capacity. Under agreements negotiated with local Richmond Neighborhood Councils, the site opened at roughly half capacity so operators could evaluate operations and gather neighborhood feedback before filling the remaining six youth units in its second year, the Richmond Standard reports. The arrangement reflects the kind of local compromise that often accompanies new shelter projects sited near existing residential areas.
The need behind the project is well documented. Youth homelessness in Contra Costa County surged 53% between 2017 and 2023, and the county's 2023 Point-in-Time count recorded approximately 119 unhoused young adults ages 18 to 24, according to Richmond Confidential. Youth advocates cited in that count caution that single-day tallies widely undercount unhoused youth, who often remain out of public view.
Richmond's Place in a Countywide Homelessness Picture
Countywide, the 2026 Point-in-Time count recorded 2,260 unhoused residents on January 29, a 7% increase from 2,118 in 2025 but still 583 fewer than in 2024, per SFGATE. That same count found that regional temporary and permanent housing bed capacity grew by 24% over the prior two years. Richmond has had the county's highest homeless population.
Volunteer-Built With a Personal Touch
The village was constructed by developer Tiny Village Spirit, which relied on more than 3,000 interfaith and community volunteers; the project was spearheaded by Executive Director Sally Hindman, who previously project-managed the development of the Oakland Tiny House Empowerment Village, according to Richmondside. The grassroots build model meant the project leaned on community labor rather than a commercial construction firm.
Local Bay Area artist Delilah Borg, who previously experienced homelessness herself, volunteered to paint murals across the site, including artwork built around the theme “Dreams, Reality” alongside symbolic stairs to success, per CBS News. The murals give the village a visible layer of contribution from people who understand the experience residents are living through firsthand.
Getting Here Took Years of Red Tape
Getting Here Took Years of Red Tape The project's path to opening was not quick. It faced months of administrative delay while awaiting municipal building permits and state DMV approvals, since the homes were built on wheels, according to Richmond Confidential.
