CHICO, Calif. - Members of the Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT) say their Simplicity Village project is moving forward thanks to all the help they have received from the community.

In the last two they have raised $85,000 of their $100,000 gofundme campaign goal. Many of the donations were from local churches who had entire congregations that pitched in.

The tiny house project aims to provide homeless and vulnerable seniors with residences that they can afford.

CHAT's president, Bill Kurnizki, described the tiny homes. "It's locked, it's insulated, it's built like a house," he said.

Acting CHAT Executive Director Leslie Johnson said, "What we would do is build a cluster of this homes around a manufactured home, and the manufactured home would have all the services."

She said the site would have laundry facilities, kitchen facilities, bathrooms and showers.

Johnson said CHAT is close to having a lease signed for the property that is located on the south end of Chico off of Highway 99 at Morrow Lane and Notre Dame Bloulevard.  The group has been cutting down weeds at the site recently so they can start work on the village as soon as possible.

Five of the tiny homes have already been built by local volunteers. Organizers hope the village will be open for residents by the end of the year.

CLICK HERE to read the last story we broadcast about the Simplicity Village project.