Joppa Partners With Local Churches to Organize Tiny Home Tour

Local churches in the Des Moines Metro hosted stops on the Tiny Home Big Tour throughout July and August.

The tour was organized to increase awareness and engagement in tiny homes as a practical solution for affordable housing.

Joppa was proud to introduce the idea and welcome community members to see first-hand what 96 square feet can offer.

To learn more about the Joppa Tiny Homes and other solutions to the housing problem, visit the Joppa Housing webpage.

Stop #1: Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Beaverdale

Fr. Michael and Dave and Shari Naughton organized the first official tour stop. During three services held on July 16 and 17, the church welcomed 375 people for a tour of “Tabitha’s House,” the first Joppa Tiny Home.

Stop #2: Immanuel United Methodist Church, Des Moines

Immanuel United Methodist Church and Paster Todd hosted a church-wide garage sale to benefit Joppa Outreach. As the community shopped the garage sale, they were also invited to take a tour of Tabitha’s House.

Stop #3: St. James Lutheran Church, Johnston

St. James Lutheran Church and Pastor Bill Bernau hosted the third stop in the Tiny Home Big Tour on July 24. Kids in the church’s Vacation Bible School heard remarks from Joppa CEO Joe Stevens before touring the home.

Stop #4: United Methodist Church, Polk City

On July 31, Polk City United Methodist Church and Pastor Hughs hosted the Tiny Home and encouraged people to learn more about finding simple solutions to ending homelessness.

Stop #5: Assumption Catholic Church, Granger

The next stop on the tour was to Assumption Catholic Church in Granger. Joe Henkels and Julie Van Brocklin helped organize the event for the Assumption congregation on Aug. 6-7.

Stop #6: St. John’s United Methodist Church, Des Moines

The final stop of the tour was St. John’s United Methodist Church on Aug. 27-28. Led by Pastor Luke, the church held an ice cream social and provided a “collections house” in a birdhouse for donations. During the event, 115 people toured the Tiny Home and the congregation raised $500, which is enough to buy the initial supplies to build one Tiny Home.