Shelton Veterans Village: Inside the Tiny Home Community Changing Lives in Mason County, WA

About this episode

Jeff Slakey discusses the impact of Shelton Veterans Village on veterans experiencing chronic homelessness with its Executive Director and Program Support Specialist.

Jeff Slakey sits down at Shelton Veterans Village on North 13th with Executive Director Colleen Carmichael and Program Support Specialist Tamra Ingwaldson for a wide-ranging conversation about what's really happening inside this unique community of 30 veterans — and why the data says permanent supportive housing is one of the smartest investments a community can make. In this episode: • Who lives at Shelton Veterans Village, how residents are selected, and what 'permanent supportive housing' actually means • Why 85% of homeless individuals in any area were born or raised there — and the data behind the misinformation • How the village uses Saint Martin's University and Olympic College interns to provide behavioral health and nursing services • The real cost of homelessness vs. housing someone — and why leaving people on the streets costs taxpayers twice as much • A new dog training / behavioral support animal pilot program launching in 2024 • What expansion could look like — and what it would mean for Mason County's chronically homeless population Shelton Veterans Village is located at N. 13th Street in Shelton, WA and serves disabled veterans experiencing chronic homelessness…

People in this episode

Host: Jeff Slakey

Guests: Colleen Carmichael, Tamra Ingwaldson

Topics covered

• veterans support
• permanent supportive housing
• homelessness
• community investment
• behavioral health services
• cost of homelessness
• dog training program

Keywords

• Shelton Veterans Village
• permanent supportive housing
• homeless veterans
• community investment
• behavioral health
• cost of homelessness
• dog training program

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Saint Martin's University, Olympic College

Places: Shelton Veterans Village, Mason County, WA, N. 13th Street

More episodes of KMAS Radio

• Whitworth Graduate Isaac Dorcy Composes Paul Bunyan Brass Quintet | Shelton WA · June 11, 2026 · 9 min
• "Too Many Kids Land on a Couch" — Shelton Superintendent on What's Next After Graduation · June 9, 2026 · 33 min
• Firewise, Fireworks, and the Fight to Keep Elected Sheriffs — Ryan Spurling | KMAS · June 8, 2026 · 13 min
• Glow Golf, Fireworks & The #1 Pros in the World — Cascade Challenge Returns to Mason County · May 26, 2026 · 11 min
• Inside Mason Matters: Rural Health, the Charlie Cart, and a USDA Grant | Shelton, WA · May 11, 2026 · 22 min
• Free Car Seat Checks + Mother's Day Pancakes at South Mason Fire | Amber Anderson · May 7, 2026 · 4 min