Vandals target tiny homes meant to help Joplin's homeless

Vandals have stolen electrical wiring from a tiny home being built to help people experiencing homelessness in Joplin, forcing volunteers to redo weeks of work.

The theft happened at a Vita Nova Village construction site near 12th and Byers.

The nonprofit is working with Sister Corps, a volunteer organization, to build transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness.

The latest home had just completed its third week of construction when someone broke through plywood covering an opening and cut out the electrical wiring.

It is the second reported incident of vandalism at the development in about three weeks.

An earlier incident involved a trailer parked closer to the road.

Joshua Bloyd, a volunteer who helped install the wiring, expressed frustration in a Facebook video Saturday.

"Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to donate my time and labor to help wire a tiny house for the Vita Nova Village project," Bloyd said. "I wasn't there to make money. I was there because this project is meant to serve people in our community."

Bloyd said learning that someone had stolen the wiring he had just installed was especially disappointing because of the time and resources volunteers have contributed.

"To know that someone would intentionally tear apart that work for a few dollars worth of stolen wire is incredibly frustrating," he wrote.

Despite the setback, Bloyd said volunteers remain committed to the project.

"But we're not going to let the actions of a few people take away from what Vita Nova Village is trying to accomplish."

Project organizers say the damage means the electrical work must be redone, creating another expense and potentially delaying construction.

Vita Nova Village is developing a community of up to 20 tiny homes designed to provide transitional housing, employment support and educational opportunities for people working toward long-term housing stability.

Joplin police are investigating.

Project organizers are asking anyone with information to contact JPD.

They are also seeking electricians willing to volunteer their services to help get construction back on schedule.