San Luis Obispo, DignityMoves, and Partners Break Ground on 3D-Printed Supportive Housing to Address Street Homelessness
Author: Homeless Services Division
Date: 6/26/2025 4:00 PM
Welcome Home Village mobilizes public and nonprofit partners to deliver 54 units of supportive housing using innovative 3D-printed construction.
San Luis Obispo, CA – The City and County of San Luis Obispo, in partnership with DignityMoves, Azure Printed Homes, and Good Samaritan Shelter, have officially broken ground on Welcome Home Village—a supportive housing community leveraging modular 3D-printed construction to reduce costs and accelerate delivery. Once complete, the project will serve as a bold, replicable model for how communities can respond quickly and humanely to street homelessness.
During the event, several key stakeholders took part in a ceremonial rooting, where they planted succulents in a 3D-printed planter box. From right to left: Joanne Price of DignityMoves, Margaret Shepard-Moore of the County of San Luis Obispo, Sylvia Barnard of Good Samaritan Shelter, County of San Luis Obispo Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, and City of San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart.
Welcome Home Village will include 54 new housing units: 14 interim supportive housing units and 40 permanent supportive housing units, all located on a single site. This partnership brings together innovative design, rapid construction, and comprehensive on-site services to support individuals experiencing homelessness on their journey toward stability.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to both immediate needs and long-term progress,” said Matt Pontes, Chief Administrative Officer for the County of San Luis Obispo. “Welcome Home Village will provide people the support they need in a safe environment that fosters healing and opportunity.”
“Today, we’re turning shared concern into action,” said City of San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica A. Stewart. “Welcome Home Village gives our neighbors experiencing homelessness a real path from surviving outdoors to thriving in a safe, supportive home. Projects like these also give our entire community back the shared spaces we all cherish. Thanks to the State’s funding and a united team of City, County, and nonprofit partners, we’re proving that San Luis Obispo can tackle challenges together and make room for everyone to thrive.”
Azure Printed Homes' innovative 3D printing technology will be utilized in the construction of Welcome Home Village, transforming waste plastic into sustainable housing. Each tiny home shell uses approximately 150,000 recycled plastic bottles, directly addressing both housing shortages and environmental waste. Azure homes are built 70% faster and 30% less expensive than traditional construction methods, making them an ideal solution for urgent housing needs.
“Welcome Home Village represents what’s possible when we pair innovation with urgency,” said Elizabeth Funk, CEO of DignityMoves. “We’re proving that we can move faster, build smarter, and meet people where they are—without sacrificing quality. DignityMoves is proud to be part of this transformational project, a bold step forward and a model for what’s possible across California.”
An estimated 120 people attended the grand opening event to celebrate this important step for the Welcome Home Village.
Interim supportive housing is a game-changing model that has surged in popularity over recent years. Built in months instead of years, interim housing is a fast, cost-effective solution that communities can scale quickly. By filling the critical gap between shelters and permanent housing, it offers a practical path forward and a renewed sense of hope that ending street homelessness is within reach.
“Partnering with DignityMoves aligns with our mission to provide sustainable, high-quality housing at scale,” said Ross Maguire, CEO of Azure Printed Homes. “This project demonstrates how innovative construction methods can address critical housing shortages efficiently and affordably.”
Shared amenities will include laundry facilities, landscaped open space with a pet relief area, and multiple community spaces—such as work-study areas and private offices for meetings with case managers and other service professionals. Services will be provided by Good Samaritan Shelter, a long-standing regional leader in housing and homelessness solutions.
“Good Samaritan Shelter is proud to partner with Welcome Home Village to provide the on-site services that help residents stabilize and move forward,” said Sylvia Barnard, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Shelter. “From case management to housing navigation, we’re bringing a full scope of support services to ensure every individual has the tools to rebuild their life.”
During the event, community members were invited to sign well-wishes on a poster that will be hung within the Welcome Home Village once the project is completed.
Once open, Welcome Home Village will serve individuals experiencing street homelessness in the Bob Jones Bike Trail encampment area. Case managers and support professionals from Good Samaritan Shelter will help residents navigate services, rebuild their lives, and move toward long-term housing stability.
