More than two decades of homelessness is ending for "Richard," a Vietnam veteran who is planting roots in Kingman thanks to the GEO Group and the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council.
Staff and inmates at the state prison that the GEO Group operates in Golden Valley constructed a tiny home atop a trailer that was donated to JAVC President Patrick Farrell, and from Farrell to Richard.
"He is a homeless veteran whose been out for 27 years in the desert and on the streets, and has been in Kingman for a while and this is his first house that he's ever had," Farrell said. "It doesn't get much better than that. This is the one thing that makes everything I do feel good."
Jeff Wrigley, the warden at the prison, gave Richard the keys to his tiny home on May 26. He said a staff member, Instructor David Gellings, donated the trailer and that inmates in the Vocational Training Program built the dwelling.
"We had carpentry people involved, electrical people, plumbing people, heating and air-conditioning people, painting folks -- all the trades were involved," Wrigley said. "We're quite proud of it."
So is Richard.
"The Geo Group did a good job on it. I didn't figure it would turn out that nice but it did," he said. "It makes me happy. I'm going to have something that belongs to me."
Farrell is now working to find a long-term location for the tiny home.
"We're waiting for a spot to open in one of the local RV parks. They're all full right now," Farrell said. ``It will be his home on a permanent basis. As long as he wants it, it's his."
And that suits Richard fine. He said he plans to stay in Kingman and continue assisting Farrell in helping area veterans.
"Let the people know that we need to get more of these built," Richard said.
Farrell and Wrigley said they've already discussed the possibility of producing more tiny homes for veterans who needing a hand up.
