07/09/2026
While we have no unused warehouses in this area the idea deserves thought
A warehouse in Minneapolis has been turned into a tiny indoor neighborhood for people who had nowhere safe to sleep.
Avivo Village, located in the North Loop, transformed a former warehouse into an indoor community of 100 secure, private “tiny homes” for adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Each unit has a lockable door, giving residents privacy and safety while they work toward permanent housing.
The project opened in December 2020 as a low-barrier, Housing First and harm-reduction shelter. That means it is designed for people living outside who may not be using traditional shelters, including people facing mental-health challenges, substance-use struggles, lack of ID, or the need to keep a pet with them.
Residents also have access to wraparound services under the same roof, including housing support, mental-health care, substance-use treatment, medical help, employment services, case managers, meals, laundry, bathrooms, showers, and 24/7 staff and security.
By July 2026, Avivo reported that 873 people had been served since opening, 339 residents had moved into safe, permanent housing, 261 overd*ses had been reversed, 21 babies had been born to residents, 49 veterans had been served, and 73 pets had lived there with their humans. Avivo also reported that 41% of people housed identified as Native American.
The model has drawn attention because it uses an existing industrial building instead of starting from scratch, while also responding to Minnesota’s dangerous winter conditions. For people sleeping outside, a lock, a bed, heat, and a support team can change the entire path forward.
Could unused warehouses in more cities be converted into safe indoor villages like this?
Sources: Avivo, Good Good Good, MPR News, Unwastetheplanet
