UTICA, N.Y. -- The Rescue Mission of Utica has broken ground on its Small House Initiative.

Three-small houses are being built on Noyes Street.

The buildings will be available to rent-to-own for low income families.

The project is being made possible through the organization's Skill for Success Program in partnership with the city, Mohawk Valley Community College and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.

The Rescue Mission has other projects in the works, and members hope this helps make a difference

"What we've also seen is one way to end homelessness is to be able to provide good, safe, affordable, permanent housing, and also a skills set for them to be able to be gainfully employed in a living wage field, and so this is where Skills for Success comes into play, houses like this come into play," said Rescue Mission of Utica Executive Director Jim Haid.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.