Residents' sense of control is key to a successful village for formerly homeless people, according to a study published by Portland State University (PSU) Tuesday. The study, a two-year analysis of "tiny pod villages" in the Portland region, offers one of the first in-depth analyses of the village model as a form of alternative shelter for unhoused people—a solution that's grown in popularity across the region and country in recent years. While the report underscores.