Crafting Community at The Other Side Village 

A Village Together

It is not about cottage homes. The size of the houses is the least important part of this effort. The key is not the physical structures but the social system. Like at The Other Side Academy, the primary ingredient for success is creating a strong culture that lifts and changes all who are part of it. 

The most important part is to create an environment, socially and physically, that facilitates connection with others. Homelessness is the result of a catastrophic loss of family. So the solution must be to build a new family.

Establishing Community

Establishing a community with strong social norms brings out the best in all of us. These strong norms will invite all to strive to achieve their potential, allowing them the dignity of being part of the solution, not just a problem to be solved. Work and self-improvement are fundamental principles of happiness. As all are invited to contribute at their ability level, The Other Side Village will remain prosperous, safe, and strong.

Building Relationships 

The Other Side Village believes that the single most significant cause of homelessness is a profound, catastrophic loss of family. That’s why our focus at The Other Side Village is to do more than just provide adequate housing. Instead, we are developing a community with supportive services and amenities to help address an individual’s relational needs at a fraction of the cost of traditional housing initiatives. We seek to empower our residents to build relationships with others and experience healing and restoration as part of engaging with a broader community.

The Village requirements for all residents:

Individuals living in The Other Side Village are required to follow three primary community covenants. Residents must:

1. Pay rent on time.
2. Abide by civil law.
3. Follow the rules of the community itself (similar to HOA or Homeowners Association for a neighborhood).

Who is eligible to live in The Other Side Village?

To be eligible to live in The Other Side Village, an individual must be chronically homeless. We expect many to have at least one disabling condition. We are defining chronic homelessness as:

An individual who is chronically homeless includes any person with a disability who has been living in a place not meant for human habitation for the last 12 months continuously or on multiple occasions that cumulatively total at least 12 months.

In addition, the individual must have lived in the Salt Lake City metro area for the past year.

All potential The Other Side Village residents are required to complete an assessment, be fingerprinted and agree to a criminal background check processed by the FBI. There will be no sex offenders or arsonist allowed in the Village.