In 2014, Dignity Village formed next to GRACE, the area’s largest shelter and service provider, when a nearby tent city closed. By 2019, a transition plan was developed to identify the occupants and match them with a housing specialist to coordinate placement into stable housing.
GRACE Executive Director Jon DeCarmine believes receiving national recognition on the closure of the Dignity Village provides validation that the city and its partners are moving in the right direction.
“We hope the recognition by American City & County will help other communities that are looking for a successful model designed to help those experiencing homelessness that’s driven by what people want and need,” DeCarmine said. “With the assistance of the City, our outreach teams were able to reduce the Dignity Village roster by 86 percent in one year,” he said.