RIVER FALLS – Every night in River Falls, people experience homelessness. The public is invited to join six River Falls churches in cooperation with Our Neighbor’s Place to learn about a project to build tiny homes to help lessen homelessness in the community. The Tiny Home Summit is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 at Luther Memorial Church (420 S. Fourth St., River Falls).

According to Minister of Christian Education Stacy Johnson Myers at First Congregational Church in River Falls, the Wellspring Village community discussion will include ministers from six area churches: Ezekiel Lutheran Church, First Congregational Church, HOPE Lutheran Church, Luther Memorial Church, Spirit of Grace and Unitarian Universalist Society.

“The effort grew out of conversations among members of the River Falls Ministerium,” Johnson Myers said. “Presently the following congregations are key members of the conversation, although we expect more churches will participate in the project as time progresses.”

Johnson Myers said members of the ministerium have been discussing and researching the project for months. This is the first public meeting.

“Members of the Ministerium are concerned about homelessness and housing insecurity in River Falls,” Johnson Myers said. “As people of faith, we feel called to address the issue. The Ministerium is spearheading the project.”

Pastors receive regular visits from vulnerable people seeking financial and housing support, she added.

“We know homelessness is a concern for a segment of our community. Even one person without shelter is one too many. The goal is for Tiny Homes to be a temporary bridge from homelessness and housing insecurity to sustainable housing.”

A tentative plan is to locate the tiny homes on private church property, though nothing has been decided yet. Johnson Myers said the group has researched several tiny home projects across the country.

“In the end, Hope Village in Chippewa Falls was the greatest inspiration. The organizers and director of Hope Village has generously shared time, expertise, plans and documents with the Ministerium,” she said.

Funding would come from a variety of sources, though the initial investment would largely come from the congregations, Johnson Myers said. The focus of the Tiny House Summit will be to introduce the concept of Wellspring Village-River Falls, provide background, and invite participation.

“The Ministerium is inviting members of congregations to participate in the Summit. The Ministerium also invited key community partners to participate. A key concern for the Ministerium is to work collaboratively with the community, including the city. The Ministerium desires partnership,” Johnson Myers said.

For more information, call the pastors at the churches listed above.