DeLand Tiny Home Community Breaks Ground in Volusia County
What Is the New DeLand Tiny Home Community?
The DeLand Tiny Home community is a new transitional housing project that has officially broken ground, built by the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia right next to the organization’s main facility off Palmetto Avenue in DeLand. The project has been roughly four years in the making and became possible only after DeLand adopted a new ordinance late last year allowing tiny homes within city limits for the first time — making this the city’s first project of its kind.
How Many Homes Will Be Built?
The DeLand Tiny Home community will start with 10 homes, built from recycled shipping containers and designed to withstand Florida’s severe weather, each with its own roof and patio. Together, the units will be able to house up to 16 individuals, or as many as two families at a time. Choosing shipping containers over traditional construction methods allowed the nonprofit to prioritize durability and affordability, both key factors given the project is funded primarily through donations and fundraising rather than large-scale grants.
Who Is This Housing For?
The homes are designed as transitional housing for individuals and families coming out of the Neighborhood Center’s emergency and bridge shelters. Residents can stay for up to two years while working toward permanent housing, paying about 30% of their monthly income in rent as they rebuild financial stability. According to the organization, the goal is to offer more than temporary shelter — providing safety, stability, and privacy during that transition, rather than a bare-bones stopgap.
When Will It Be Finished?
The Neighborhood Center expects the DeLand Tiny Home project to be completed by early 2027. The organization has raised about $795,000 toward an estimated $1.2 million total cost and is still fundraising to complete construction. Community support, in the form of both donations and volunteer involvement, has played a central role in getting the project this far after years of planning.
Why Does Volusia County Need This?
Volusia County is estimated to be about 55,000 units short of the affordable housing its residents need, a gap that’s put pressure on nonprofits and local governments alike to find creative solutions. DeLand Mayor Chris Cloudman called the project “a building block” that could be expanded on in the future, and organization leaders have said they hope it opens the door for similar projects across the county — including nearby communities like DeBary, which faces many of the same housing pressures as growth continues across the region.
Could More Tiny Home Communities Come to the Area?
City leaders and nonprofit organizers both see this as a potential model for future projects, not a one-off. Since DeLand’s tiny home ordinance is brand new, this project effectively sets the template for how future developments could work within city limits — from zoning approach to construction method to the transitional-housing model itself. If successful, it could pave the way for similar efforts elsewhere in Volusia County as the region continues to grapple with its housing shortage.
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