ST. CLOUD -- After a year-long litigation battle, St. John's Episcopal Church officially broke ground on their new tiny house Tuesday morning.

The church came to an agreement with the city of St. Cloud Monday to build a new tiny house on their property.

Rev. George Ham says now they can do the work they've always intended to do.

"We want to make this house available to people in the homeless community who want to change their lives. It's a place for them to be safe while we work with them to help them turn their lives around."

 

The 384 square-foot home will be built by students from the St. Cloud Technical and Community College and include electric heat, water and sewer.

Ham says part of the agreement allows the church to house a single resident for longer than the city's 45-day ordinance permits.

"Ordinarily transitional housing has a 45 day time limit set but the city, but we just don't feel that is adequate. Our intent is to have a place where someone can stay for a longer term."

 

The house will cost about $40,000 to build and will be funded with the help of donations and fundraising efforts.

Ham says if all goes well they hope to have the home completed by spring.

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