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Feb 20 New York Times, Home section p. 1 has great article Small World, Big Ideas, about Quixote Village--homeless people have tiny homes (8x18 sf) in a semi-circle, plus a community building for kitchen, etc. The homeless people participated in the design of all this and are no longer homeless.
I saw this!! And LOVE it. I've thought about that myself, and it seems so doable. The thing that people don't like about homeless shelters is they get their stuff stolen and the general vibe is just not pleasant. I've often thought that having locked pods/microhousing of some kind (even as small as train berths) would be a much better option than "open concept" homeless shelters.
Thank you for posting.
That is awesome!
A city in Wisconsin is doing this. The article I read included the information that the intended residents are providing some of the work effort.
It might be a good use to convert some shipping containers or old 18 wheeler trailers, I don't know what you call them but many are insulated.
I think it should be a requirement that the ones living in them contribute to them in some way.
Does it it just irk you to think that someone who is in need might be given something with no strings attached? What the heck is at the base of your thinking?Quote:
Originally Posted by dmc
That people who actually earn the things they have appreciate it more and take care of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by redfox
Why should people who are able, get things for free? If someone wants a home why cant they contribute at least a little sweat equity. They may learn something and probably take better care of something they actually have helped put together.
I think this is cool.
I know Habitat for Humanity requires some sweat equity, for the reasons DMC stated. Don't know if it works - or matters.
Everyone has built into us a basic drive to create and to participate. If that drive in buried under mental illness, addiction, and trauma, then how do we help folks uncover their capacities? How do you decide if someone "is able"?Quote:
Originally Posted by dmc
Providing opportunity for poor people, that is, people without money, to accumulate more money to be able to meet their basic life needs is a part of what it means to be in community and to be a human being. If someone is smelly and doesn't have access to a shower, let's build showers for them. Then once that person feels better about themselves - even mentally ill people are aware that they smell bad and that others turn away from them - the next need can be addressed, together, with shared resources.
If someone's basic need for food isn't met, they have a very hard time finding a job. If someone hasn't slept well in a year because they are in a tent on a hillside under the highway, they aren't able to think clearly, and need a safe place to sleep, probably for several weeks. THEN they can begin to address their need for a job and permanent housing. Have you ever thought about how hard it is to apply for a job without an address?
My baseline is that those who are homeless are doing the best they can under really horrific circumstances. Our obligation to our brethren is to help them out. So that they can get to the point of being able to have agency in their own lives, and in turn, reciprocate to help others.