Homes for Heroes Foundation An artist rendering of the community set to open in Calgary next spring.

As 2018 draws to a close, we're looking at some of the biggest stories that shaped our world and consumed our interest for the last 12 months. Happy holidays to you and yours, and looking forward to more great stories in 2019. A village of tiny houses for homeless veterans is set to become a reality in Calgary, and the man behind the project hopes cities across the country will consider setting up similar plans. The project will see 18 homes and a communal building placed on a parcel of land in the community of Forest Lawn in the spring of 2019, pending approval from city council next month.

Homes for Heroes Foundation A visualization of what the completed Homes for Heroes project will look like.

David Howard, president and co-founder of the Homes for Heroes Foundation, told HuffPost Canada his team did extensive consultations to find out the primary needs and wants of homeless veterans. "A lot of these people said they want to be able to look out for each other, they want to feel supported and around others who understand their situation." To accommodate those requests, the barrack-style development will be built around community gardens, memorials to fallen Canadian soldiers, and a communal building where residents can access peer-to-peer programming and counselling.

Today, our Chair & CEO, Nancy Southern, invited local media to tour the first of our new tiny homes designed to support Canada's veterans as part of the Homes For Heroes program. Learn more about this amazing project: https://t.co/Gqwkr7DR9zpic.twitter.com/o2JoXmpDPC — ATCO (@ATCO) October 22, 2018

The 270 sq.-ft., fully-furnished houses include a living area, Murphy bed, full bathroom, front porch, and kitchen. There will also be a family suite on site, so veterans' loved ones can visit and take part in programming. "These veterans are just looking for a leg up," said Howard, who estimates there are 5,000 to 7,000 homeless vets in Canada. "They don't want a big space, but they do want a home. Somewhere they can work on themselves before they leave and transition back to society and make room for the next vet."

Homes for Heroes Foundation A view of the interior of one of the tiny homes for veterans.