Wendy’s Village, a new tiny home community in Colorado Springs, is nearing completion, offering a unique and affordable housing solution for educators in the area. Located in a scenic, natural setting, the village features colorful tiny homes, each spanning about 352 square feet.
This project, developed by the non-profit organization We Fortify and the Harrison School District, aims to address the growing issue of housing affordability for teachers in Colorado Springs.
The Purpose of Wendy’s Village
The creation of Wendy’s Village was driven by a desire to attract and retain high-quality teachers in a community where the cost of living is increasing, making it difficult for educators to find affordable housing.
According to Shelley Jensen, founder and CEO of We Fortify, the goal was to offer teachers a dignified living environment in Colorado Springs, where they could enjoy a good quality of life while staying close to their jobs.
With Colorado Springs being one of the more expensive cities to live in 2025, especially for teachers, the community offers a refreshing alternative. The average rent for these tiny homes is set at $825, which is considered affordable given the city’s rising housing prices. As Jensen pointed out, Colorado ranks poorly for affordability and education funding, making this initiative a critical step toward supporting teachers.
Affordable Rent Calculation
The $825 rent is not arbitrary. It was carefully calculated by We Fortify and the Harrison School District using a unique method. By considering the $11,000 that teachers typically set aside for retirement each year, they subtracted that from the teachers’ income and then took 30% of the remainder. This approach is different from the typical Area Median Income (AMI) formula that is usually used in housing calculations.
This thoughtful rent pricing is aimed at ensuring that teachers can live in the area without facing financial strain, which is crucial in a city where the cost of living is about 5% higher than the national average.
Features of the Tiny Homes
The tiny homes in Wendy’s Village are designed to provide all the comforts of a larger home in a smaller, more efficient space. Each unit includes a full kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom.
The homes are also well-lit and spacious, making them feel more comfortable and inviting than you might expect from a tiny home. In addition to the private units, the village will feature communal green spaces and shared areas, fostering a sense of community among residents.
Jensen describes the development as a “beautiful, community-focused” project that aims to offer teachers a peaceful and attractive place to live. “We wanted to provide a beautiful pocket neighborhood,” Jensen explained, emphasizing that the design of the village is intended to complement the surrounding school neighborhood, without overwhelming it with large, high-rise apartment buildings.
A Growing Trend of Affordable Tiny Home Communities
Wendy’s Village is part of a growing trend of tiny home villages offering affordable living options in areas with rising housing costs. These communities are popping up across the United States as a solution to the affordability crisis, especially for those in essential professions like teaching.
For example, in Florida, there’s a tiny home community with rent capped at just $375, offering spaces on the water. Additionally, a couple in Virginia owns a tiny home community on the beach, which they rent out to visitors.
These types of affordable housing solutions are helping to address the increasing gap between wages and the cost of living, providing a much-needed alternative to expensive apartments and homes.