High school construction pathway students participating in the Warrior Village Project. (Photo: Vista Unified)
High school construction pathway students in San Diego County are building tiny homes for Homeless Veterans as part of a hands-on learning program. Warrior Village Project involves students from five high schools constructing six moveable tiny houses, providing both a real-world learning experience and addressing the local housing crisis for homeless Veterans.
Yesterday, the Warrior Village Project, San Diego County Office of Education, and WorkforceConnect sponsored the first Tiny Houses Build Day at the AGC Apprenticeship & Training Trust facility in Lakeside. Students from five high schools—San Marcos, San Pasqual, Rancho Buena Vista, Poway, and La Jolla—worked alongside industry professionals. These tiny homes, equipped with essential amenities such as kitchens, bathrooms, sleeping areas, and heat pumps, are designed to offer practical, affordable housing for Veterans in need. Once completed, the homes will be distributed to nonprofits that will place them within the community to directly benefit Homeless Veterans.
Mark Pilcher, the founder of the Warrior Village Project, noted the dual benefits of the program. He pointed out to reporters that while San Diego faces a housing crisis, there is also a growing demand for young skilled workers in the building trades. The project offers students practical experience in trades like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and more, while allowing them to contribute to solving the housing shortage. Pilcher stated the urgency of this program, as the construction industry faces a workforce shortage, with fewer younger workers entering the trades compared to retirees leaving the field.
The tiny homes, designed by Nick Mosely, a pioneer in the tiny house industry, are built to be affordable, easy to transport, and straightforward for students to construct. For students like Jorge Hernandez and Juan Torres, the project offers an opportunity to apply their construction skills while making a positive social impact. They expressed excitement about learning new techniques and contributing to the community by helping Veterans.
This program is part of Career Technical Education programs in participating schools, which provide students with in-demand skills. Vista Unified’s Career Pathways Coordinator, Robert Crowell, emphasized the value of this opportunity, calling it a “win-win” for students and the community. According to local workforce data, the construction sector in San Diego County is expected to grow by 10% over the next five years, making this project a timely educational experience for the next generation of tradespeople.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
