The Beardstown City Council will be hearing about an initiative to bring low cost housing to area veterans to the city at their next meeting on Tuesday, November 5th. The Quincy-based organization 2×4’s for HOPE will present the council with more information about building tiny homes that are given for free to homeless or needy veterans. Mayor Leslie Harris told WLDS News in a phone call this morning that Billie and Paula Burge of Quincy who are members of the group will present the council with how completed projects in Quincy and an upcoming project in Mt. Sterling in Spring 2020 have worked over the last five years.
The tiny homes are fully furnished and measure 14 by 30 feet. According to a report from the Journal-Courier, the homes cost roughly $34,000 to build. Harris said the group was part of a presentation that came to Congressman Darin LaHood’s veterans committee in Beardstown last month. She said the active VFW post in town has played a large part in bringing the group to town. Harris hopes the homes will fill up the vacant lots that the city currently has. She says the city has recently received the property after demolitions of dilapidated homes occurred within the last two years.
The council will ultimately have to decide on zoning ordinances. The council is not expected to take any action on the homes at the November 5th meeting. The meeting begins at 6PM in the City Hall basement located at 105 West Third Street.
To learn more about 2×4’s For Hope, visit this link.