Driftwood Neighbors – a Tiny House Story by Jude Forsyth

“A piece of driftwood is moved by the forces outside of itself until someone picks it up. We are called to lift up others around us.” Dale Pfeiffer

Driftwood Neighbors – a Tiny House Story by Jude Forsyth

There are always newcomers to the community who want to make a difference for our Mobile County displaced (homeless) population. They join the many organizations in our area that are devoted to the various aspects of helping displaced people. These groups vary from providing immediate needs such as temporary shelter, food and water, emergency medical treatment or medicine, to long term planning on how to prevent more people from becoming displaced and to finding permanent homes and services for our existing local population. Newcomers have a path that can become challenging and also full of amazing strides. Driftwood Housing Project and two of the founders, Dale and Reba Pfeiffer have quite the story to share.

Dale, who retired in 2019 from a career in technology, and wife Reba, a former schoolteacher and avid world traveler, moved to Midtown Mobile, Alabama from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2020 the Covid19 health crisis shut down their retirement plans to travel. Staying closer to home, they attended a Midtown event named Jazz on the Roof, an outdoor jazz concert at Central Presbyterian Church. Upon noticing that the church was sponsoring a food pantry, they decided to volunteer two mornings a week. They met the pastor, Chris Bullock and volunteer Connie Guggenbiller, who oversaw the food pantry outreach. Connie introduced them to many of the kindhearted volunteers who oversaw the strenuous workload that needed to be done each week at the Love All Food Pantry to prepare for the hundreds of families who would be picking up bags and boxes of fresh and packaged food. Reba found her gift in greeting guests, family by family.

Having been a counselor for many years in a low socioeconomic community, Reba is particularly sensitive to people who are suffering. In November 2022, Reba and Dale’s story was featured on the Our Southern Souls Facebook page. Reba shared, “My missing hand helps me have a connection with people going through hard times.” My purpose is always serving and giving back.” A world traveler, Reba spent a summer in Pakistan and came into contact with what they call “untouchables.” “I paid attention, and tried to understand, but there is nothing fair about the caste system.” She relates that time with her experience with local displaced people. “The homeless are our untouchables. Most of them have lost their families or have been rejected by the people around them. My whole life has been looking out for others, it once was students and now it is the homeless.”

Dale found his place loading the many vehicles at the food pantry. Dale, once a pastor, experienced a lot of pain suppressed from a difficult childhood. He shared with the readers of Our Southern Souls that his pain did not disappear and that it “left no room to address what was happening inside.” He often drank to get though his pain and shared that he was at one time suicidal. “I didn’t realize until I was in recovery that I had to face my pain. I learned how to reconcile and forgive.” Perhaps it was those experiences that led him to have such empathy for those who suffer and are homeless.

Volunteering at the Love All Food pantry, serving over 650 people a week, became a mainstay in Dale and Reba’s life for most of 2020, and all of 2021. That is where it all began.

While volunteering, Connie noticed that Reba and Dale had empathy for the displaced guests. They didn’t arrive in cars or trucks. They walked up to a special receiving line where they kindly received their ration of groceries. Reba and Dale pulled and set aside canned goods that had flip top lids, peanut butter, and meals that could be microwaved. They stored this food in small boxes that would be easily carried. Soon, the Pfeiffers were responding to calls during the week from displaced neighbors, organizing bags of donations before the holiday outreach, and distributing blankets and clothing. It became apparent to them that there was so much more to be done and that they needed help. Soon they solicited the help of two friends, Thomas and Martha Doran who had also moved from North Carolina. Dale met Thomas, a Vietnam Veteran, at Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-based, twelve step program. Thomas attended a “step study” with a group of men that Dale was leading through their program. The Dorans, like Dale and Reba, were concerned for the homeless and soon the two couples were working together to try to help.

In January of 2022, there was more to battle than just the COVID19 pandemic. A recognized reporter for the Alabama Public Radio wrote a news article that was released on January 24th, entitled, Critics Say Mobile City Council Proposal Will Target the Homeless. Oldshue reported that Ben Reynolds, the councilman from District 4, Tillman’s Corner, was about to introduce an ordinance at the city council meeting. The ordinance would make it illegal to camp in public spaces like parks and right of ways. Reynolds argued that he was receiving complaints about the growing homeless population in Tillman’s Corner and stated his concern for public safety. Elizabeth Chiepalich, part of the Facebook page, Homeless in Mobile, spearheaded the opposition, saying, “I think it’s almost opened a can of worms and exposing what needs to be exposed.” The Pfeiffers agreed. Led by Elizabeth, an assembly of homeless service providers and volunteers serving the displaced brothers and sisters gathered at City Hall, week after week on Tuesday, many wearing yellow arm bands, to protest the new ordinance that was introduced by Reynolds. After weeks of protest, the ordinance was tabled. Proving again, that one person can make a difference, especially if they are effective at rallying other people to their cause.

Dale and Reba weren’t deterred by any opposition but were instead more inspired and motivated to work in many capacities with the displaced community. But inspiration was also to appear in a different way. While Dale and Reba were enjoying a day at Dauphin Island, he ran across a small piece of driftwood on the sand. The weathered piece of driftwood fit in the palm of his hand. He recalls how that moment changed their lives. As he studied the driftwood, he began to think about the hundreds of displaced neighbors in Mobile, the ones that they served at Central Presbyterian Church and others that they were serving all over Mobile County. He shared his thoughts with Reba, “Look, Reba. It reminds me of our homeless friends, especially those who are misunderstood and are displaced by the battering winds and waves of life.” It was the combination of serving the homeless in Mobile, their opposition to the Reynolds’ ordinance, Dale’s encounter with the driftwood on Dauphin Island, and experiencing a sense that God was calling them to do more, that led them to incorporate as Driftwood Housing Project, Inc.

Driftwood Housing Project launched on February 9th, 2022, during the COVID19 pandemic. With the help of a sympathetic Mobile attorney who had been a homeless advocate for many decades, Dale completed the necessary legal paperwork for the newly formed group, and convened a like-minded executive committee where Dale served as executive director and Reba as secretary. The members came together to identify their mission as: “To provide housing for the chronically homeless where they will receive services in a safe environment.” They define themselves as a “501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a no or low-income housing developer, and a property manager.” With information provided by the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, the group moved forward and launched a capital campaign. Driftwood Housing received their 501(c)(3) charitable organization designation letter in June 2022.

Over time, a Board of Directors was added to help fulfill the mission, and several talented individuals with specific skill sets also joined as members. Members of the group made the decision to focus on chronically displaced individuals and began to research types of homes that might serve their needs. Almost all members selected shotgun style tiny houses. Shotgun houses are small, single-story houses that are recognizable for how narrow they are and are typically only one room wide and two to four rooms deep. This selection made sense since shotgun houses were the first tiny houses built all along the Gulf Coast.

As the group moved forward, the idea of a displaced village emerged; a place that not only would build a variety of mini and micro homes, but also have common areas and offer a place where all resources for the displaced could be accessed. Dale and members of the board worked continuously on all aspects of making the village a reality. Fundraising was ongoing. Dale set up a GoFundMe campaign with a link from the Driftwood Housing Facebook group. They raised over $10,000.00 through fundraising efforts. Speaking engagements, including at several Rotary Clubs netted more contributions, such as an orthopedist, who believed so much in the cause that he contributed $7,000.00 towards the building of a future house in the village. With money in the bank, they started the building of the first tiny home. The president of the Sunrise Rotary Club, Bill Youngblood, mentioned that he might be able to help with finding property. The search for a village property was on!

Members of Driftwood continued to be encouraged by the progress of the mission to build the village. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the group. It wasn’t long before resistance in Mobile, so common to people who are trying to house homeless people, reared its ugly, “not in my neighborhood” attitude. Zoning was a major issue and the local Down the Bay Neighborhood Association rejected Driftwood Housing’s idea to use the neighborhood facility to provide a day center and housing for the homeless. But the members of Driftwood weren’t deterred from their mission.

The idea that one person can make a huge difference was also proved by Eric “Bump” Overstreet who had heard about Driftwood Housing’s village mission. Eric made the decision to start living outside with the homeless for three months to raise money for Driftwood. Eric began recording daily videos and posting those clips on Facebook. Thousands of people began to watch and listen to his daily podcast. The press took notice and Eric was on the news. Eric relayed to Dale that a stranger watched one of the videos and then saw him on TV. His name was John Kozlinski.

John owned a huge warehouse on Old Canal Street in Mobile and said that he’d make the warehouse available for a homeless ministry. The day arrived when Dale, Eric and John met at the warehouse. The warehouse had many items in it from John’s construction business and did not have electricity, water, heat or bathroom facilities. Still the Driftwood members came together to clean up, offer blankets, flashlights, space heaters, a port-a-John, and warm food for displaced people on a particularly cold evening. Several members, including Dale, spent the night together with their homeless neighbors. Here is his account of that special evening.

It was freezing cold that night in the warehouse. The wind was blowing against the metal framed building which made loud spooky noises all night long. Some of the neighbors were talking to themselves. There was one senior man, Mario, who in the middle of the night needed to go to the hospital. Sadly, he was in a lot of pain and was crying out for help in the dark room. He also had to go to the bathroom. Remember, there was no functioning bathroom on the first night. So, not being able to sleep, I walked over to Mario and helped him get up on his feet. I tried to comfort Mario, “I can take you to the hospital.” Then, as we were heading toward the entrance door, Mario changed his mind, and said that he was okay. Mario turned around and plopped back down into his blankets. I did my best to cover him with blankets. Sometime during the situation, Mario soiled his pants. The stench surrounding Mario, and generally in the facilities, was becoming unbearable. I couldn’t sleep, so stayed awake praying for everyone in the room. Sadly, Mario died in June of 2023. Many of our displaced neighbors die in the streets for one reason or another.

One of the things that happens when you begin to continually volunteer in working with the displaced community, is that you meet so many other people and organizations with similar missions. Kendall Young, Director of Community Outreach at Housing First, Ana Maria Ramirez Sawyer from Colors of Love, leaders from Port City Sarmatians House, Trista Walker from United Way with the online UWSWA Community Resource Network, leaders in the United Way of Southwest Alabama and the Red Cross, Colette Huff with Dearborn Y.M.C.A., Derek Boulware, the Chief Executive Officer for Housing First, Cassie Calloway, Mobile’s Chief Resilience Officer and many more became aware of Driftwood’s mission and helped to spread the word or offer services. Mobile’s Mayor, Sandy Stimpson, thanked members of Driftwood for serving our homeless neighbors in Mobile.

Members of Driftwood Housing researched the villages across America that were successful and then incorporated many of their best practices. With help from a volunteer architect, they designed their village to include:

• affordable housing

• a day center where displaced neighbors could visit

• an emergency shelter

• a garden, outdoor kitchens, and a dog kennel

• a hygiene center where the villagers and visitors could take a shower or do laundry

• a warehouse where we could collect and store furniture and fixtures for transitional neighbors who get back on their feet and find permanent housing

• and possibly, a memorial garden where those who die while homeless can receive dignity in burial.

This was a huge dream that was exciting to the membership who were already chipping away at the mission objectives.

While continuing to advocate for their dream of a displaced village, Dale and Reba, and many of the member volunteers continued to serve the needs of the homeless by participating in the clearing and cleaning of homeless encampments, sponsored individuals in dwellings near their homes and enlisted others to do so as well. They also recruited nurses for well visits, helped individuals get into work programs, arranged anger management counseling, and so much more. Through all of this, everyone involved was learning so much about what it meant to be displaced and exactly how the advocate community needed to help. Dale has shared, “A piece of driftwood is moved by the forces outside of itself until someone picks it up. We are called to lift up others around us.” Members began lifting up displaced individuals by becoming personally involved. They see them as their neighbors. Dale explains:

Vickie, Frederick, Larry, Steven, all these neighbors have been or still are chronically homeless. All are financially distressed. All have had some sort of trauma in their lives accompanied by post-traumatic stress. All have food insecurities. Most have transportation challenges. Some have physical handicaps. Some have mental illnesses. Some have addictions. All have dysfunctional family issues.

All are like driftwood—lodging here, lodging there, adrift but for the whims of others. It truly takes a village to support each one of them, hours and hours of time and material on a day-to-day basis coaching them to make better life choices. The Reba’s, Connie’s, Elizabeth’s, Lori’s, Eric’s, John’s, Angie’s, and others serving the homeless in Mobile are empathetic neighbors helping displaced neighbors. They are all loving their neighbors and helping their neighbors to live a better life and be the best version of themselves that they can be. It’s exhausting work for these saints, but they all bear their neighbor’s burdens without complaining or recognition. They’re all examples to us all, and they know that they are doing the next right thing.

Throughout all this generous volunteering, the vision of tiny houses and the village persisted. Finally, there was a breakthrough. Joyful news came that Julien Marx Foundation Trust had donated eight acres in Semmes for the village! Members have visited the site and what was a proposed architectural plan began to be visualized on the property as members walked the grounds and excitedly planned where the structures, houses and common areas might be located.

Driftwood Housing members celebrated as they continued to work toward their common goal. With donated money, Dale and the team of volunteers began to build the first micro house. It took months and numerous resolute volunteers to complete the building.

They understood that if the public could see the house, they would be better informed and inspired to join the group and help to fund and build the village. With more funding and continued skilled labor, the first micro house was dedicated by members and supporters at the Central Presbyterian Church in February 2024.

Driftwood Housing celebrated their second anniversary on February 9th, 2024. They are ready for phase one of their village plan. Information from their website states:

On phase one of this project, we are applying to foundations for infrastructure capital to gravel roads, drill a well, install a sewage system, and establish our electrical grid. All construction will be subject to the Semmes planning department’s approval. Phase one, when completed, will include 15 micro homes (no plumbing) with access to a shared facility with bathrooms, showers, a laundry room, a food pantry, a post office, an outdoor kitchen, and office space for service providers. We will build 5 custom tiny houses with plumbing for our handicapped neighbors.

At the April 2024 Art Walk in downtown Mobile, the public had the first chance to see the finished house and tour the interior. The sense of pride and hope was palpable as Dale, Reba and friends of the Driftwood community fostered the tour of the little home and spoke to visitors about their village dream. Many people signed up at the table and new members continued to be enrolled.

Membership in the Driftwood Housing Project grows as more and more people are excited at not only the prospect of the tiny house village, but the reality of the dream with donated land and funds for the houses. Hopefully new donations, small and large, are around the corner. The website, driftwoodhousing.org offers more information and the opportunity for membership, donations, and active volunteering. Readers may also make contact at DriftwoodHousingProject@gmail.com

“One of the many blessings that I am sure God planned in this mission is the people themselves who have joined, their generosity and the wonderful friendships that have emerged.” Dale Pfeiffer