LaHood to attend ribbon cutting for Lincoln's first tiny home Sunday, August 1st

[July 29, 2021]   The ribbon cutting for Lincoln's first tiny home, given to a local at-risk veteran, will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday August 1st at 535 6th Street.

The selected veteran will be handed the keys to a fully furnished home, at no cost to them. Attending the ribbon cutting will be board members of CIVC, the Founders of 2x4’s For Hope, Mayor Welch and Congressman La Hood. All are encouraged to attend this event to show support of the local veteran. The tiny home will be open for tours, following the ribbon cutting.

Lincoln's first tiny home is brought here by the work of two non-for-profit organizations, Central Illinois Veteran Commission and 2x4's For Hope. 2x4’s For Hope, a 501(c)(3) global organization founded by Mark and Chris Lawrence in May 2015, helps build homes for homeless and at-risk veterans. Each home (576 square feet) costs approximately $55,000 to construct, and all the labor is provided by 100 plus community volunteers, as well as the veteran who will receive the fully furnished home. The exterior of the home is typically built in two days, and takes about seven to complete the entire project, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the eighth day.

The Central Illinois Veterans Commission is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to provide veterans with holistic services designed to eliminate barriers in obtaining permanent housing. To do so, it engages honorably discharged veterans in programs focused on workplace skills, financial and life coaching, mental health counseling, and housing assistance.

The CIVC Board includes representatives from various social service organizations, colleges and veteran offices. The Board also includes an ex officio member representing the Logan County Economic Development Partnership, United Way of Logan County.

At the Sixth and College Street location preparation is under way for an additional two homes. Future tiny home build dates will be announced and posted on both websites.

Individuals interested in donating time or monetarily for either organization please visit their individual websites at www.2x4forhope.org and/or www.civeteran.org for further information. For updates on the upcoming builds, follow both CIVC and 2x4's For Hope on their individual Facebook pages (Central Illinois Veteran Commission and 2x4's For Hope).

[Jordan Lenz, Administrative Assistant]