This How-To Guide for the creation of alternative shelters called villages is the outcome of a multi-year study by Portland State University’s Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative on the village model, funded by the Meyer Memorial Trust. It is one component of a larger document which and portraits of individuals involved in some aspect of villages. The six Portland-area villages included in this study were Dignity Village (2000), Hazelnut Grove (2015), Kenton Women’s Village (2017/2019), Clackamas County Veterans Village (2018), Agape Village (2019), and the St. Johns Village (2021). The work presented here relies on the direct input from those with experience designing, supporting, managing, and/or living in or near the villages.