TAMPA, Fla. — A St. Petersburg nonprofit is working to solve the city’s affordable housing crisis one tiny home at a time. Celebrate Outreach said it is the organization’s way of helping families and veterans that are at risk of becoming homeless.

In late January, Celebrate Outreach broke ground on its second tiny home. The organization first began planning the project seven years ago, working with the city and the University of South Florida along the way.

Justin Keding is a new homeowner because of Celebrate Outreach’s tiny home project. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who was deployed to Iraq and later Afghanistan. He said it was hard transitioning back to civilian life after witnessing some of his comrades, turned friends, lose their lives.

“Just acting normal again and people not understanding what you went through,” Justin said.

When Justin returned to the states, he eventually decided to move to Florida. It’s where his parent’s live, but he also came for the warm weather. Justin landed in St. Pete in a studio apartment by the Trop, but found himself getting outpriced by rent.

In 2021, rent in the city increased by 25% - the nation’s third highest rent hike, according to a study done by Harvard University. At that point, Justin knew he needed a more affordable place to live.

“I mean, there’s only one in this whole city at this point,” he said. “I just found a gem, you know, I just got lucky and just found it.”

Justin found the 460-square foot home through a friend and Celebrate Outreach officially dedicated the house to him in July of 2022. While the organization's ultimate goal with the tiny homes project is to end homelessness, it’s also about creating financial stability so people can become homeowners.

Now that he’s settled into his new home, Justin has visions for the future.

“I want to do lots to the house,” he said. “I want to build a fence, I want to build a lanai. I want to build a garage. So I mean, that’s kind of on my bucket list as of right now.”

Justin said he also plans to volunteer to help with Celebrate Outreach’s second tiny home. The organization first began planning the Tiny Homes project seven years ago and worked with the City of St. Petersburg and the University of South Florida along the way.

For more information about the project, you can visit the organization’s website here.