Our Mission
Operation Tiny House exists to uphold dignity among veterans currently experiencing homelessness. No veteran should experience homelessness. Our job is to partner with volunteers, community members, and corporate sponsors to raise funds and awareness about homelessness among veterans.
About Us
Hello, my name is Valerie Ballard, Executive Director of Operation Tiny House, Our fiscal agent is North Texas Capacity Builders, Inc. I am the daughter of a US Army Veteran. My dad served as a Paratrooper. My drive for Operation Tiny House comes from my late grandmother, Joanna Webb Murria, who always took good care of the wounded veterans in our family.
Studies show that 22 veterans commit suicide each day. Some contributing factors include isolation, lack of purpose, and—you guessed it—homelessness. Our veterans’ communities will directly address these issues.
Operation Tiny House is a nonprofit organization that provides transitional and permanent housing, job training, and employment opportunities for Veterans currently experiencing homelessness. This innovative program addresses two of Dallas’ biggest problems: homelessness and lack of affordable housing.
Operation Tiny House is already bringing together local, state, and corporate sponsors—along with hundreds of individuals—who want to help raise funds and bring awareness to the number of homeless veterans living on our streets. With support from our community partners like Santander Consumer USA Foundation, Home Depot and Home Depot Foundation, Grapevine Dodge, Ocwen Financial, Chesmar Homes, Comerica Bank, Venture X, EarthX, State Fair of Texas, USAA and others, veterans will have the opportunity to live, work, and volunteer in a tiny house community.
We’re already giving hope to the veterans on our waiting list to live in a tiny house community. We have one transitional veterans camp and other planned communities in Ellis and Johnson County.
Joanna Webb Murria
Our Legacy
For decades, Joanna Webb-Murria was regarded as the most cherished member of the Watson-Webb family. She was the youngest of six children born in Minden, Louisiana on January 14, 1915. Joanna was educated at Watson School in Grove, Louisiana, which was founded by her mother’s two brothers, Tom and Wesley Watson, both of whom served in the U.S. Army. She later attended Webster Training School, which was also founded by her family. Joanna graduated in 1935 as a dietician and began working in local Louisiana hospitals. Her professional career afforded her opportunities to travel and work throughout the country in places like Vancouver, Washington, and Arkansas.
Joanna was born into a family of successful entrepreneurs, military war heroes, and great humanitarians. The Watson-Webb family depended on her to care for wounded veteran family members returning from military duty. She was an advocate for good nutrition and healthy eating habits, and was dedicated to providing medical nutritional intervention through food monitoring and preparation. She was happy to cook and care for her parents, siblings, and family members when their health began to decline. Joanna never smoked or consumed alcohol a day in her life, which is likely the reason she lived to see her ninety-seventh birthday.
Joanna was the mother of Dr. Arthur Webb, who served as the first enlisted African-American Academy Specialist and U.S. Army Instructor. Her brother, J. Walter Webb, was a World War II U.S. Army Cadet, and her uncle, Wesley Watson, was a U.S. Army World War II recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. Her son-in-law, Jesse Staten, was a U.S. Army Paratrooper. There are fifty-two other veteran family members.
Joanna Webb-Murria lived at 112 West Elmore Ave. Beckley Club Estates neighborhood in the Oak Cliff Area of Dallas for twenty years. Her cherished home, now named the Joanna’s Veterans Camp, is dedicated to her work and love for veterans. Her home was donated by her granddaughter, Valerie Ballard, who is the Executive Director of North Texas Capacity Builders Operation Tiny House.
Joanna, in her later years, enjoyed sitting under the shade trees at the home now dedicated to her legacy.
After suffering three strokes, Joanna spent the last two years of her life at Williamsburg Village Nursing Center. She fought a long, hard battle. On Sunday, May 20, 2012, she went home to be with the Lord.
Joanna will be forever loved and remembered by her family members and the Dallas community.
Board of Directors
Patsy Pea, Board Chairperson
Sheliah Tucker, Secretary /Treasurer
Denise Baxter
Ed Vonder
Larry Grey
Gwen Brazilston
Karen Zahaluk,
Jessica Vittorio, Legal Advisor
Veterans Leadership Team
Commander Victor Spencer
vspencer.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Ed Vonder, Veterans Liasion
Kevin Belcher, Outreach and Marketing
kbelcher.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Commissioner Fred Walker , Outreach and Marketing
captwalk@yahoo.com
Staff Team
Valerie Ballard, Founder and Executive Director
vballard.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Karen Zahaluk, Board Director & Community Engagement
kzahaluk.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Roderick Murria, Ranch Maintanance
Angela Jennings, Community Outreach Specialist
ajennings.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Volunteer Team
Tiffany Williams, Volunteer Assistant
twilliams.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Lillie Gregory, Government Relations
lgregory.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Iman Belk - Newsletter & Marketing
I.belk.tinyhouse@gmail.com
Jennifer Wilbush, Strategic Planning
Cheryl Wallace - Marketing & Outreach
crwallace.tinyhouse@gmail.com