By definition, the homeless need somewhere to live. We plan to solve the problem of housing for the homeless by producing micro-dwellings. It is our belief that if these are sufficiently minimalistic and constructed from the minimum of interchangeable and configurable parts, that this solution can be implemented nationally (and potentially internationally) as emergency housing.
What’s Needed
The micro-dwellings must be lightweight, semi-disposable, modular, scalable, and highly transportable. They must be capable of being mass produced at a low cost. We are currently in conversation with architectural firm LSI Architects and manufacturer CNC Cutting Shop to design and build a prototype micro-dwelling.
National Roll-Out
We intend to leverage the goodwill of the public to gain access to areas of private land upon which to locate these dwellings. In this manner, a national network of dwellings can be set up. Access to the micro-dwellings will be provided by using our software to unlock digital locks.
The CARA and SHELTA Apps
Homeless users of the CARA app will be able to gain access to micro-dwellings that have been specifically designated for housing those who need it most. In addition to housing the homeless, we envisage the general public paying to stay for the night in similar dwellings designated for public use. A bed for the night in a city-centre located micro-dwelling could be cheaper than a taxi ride home. We have developed our SHELTA app for use by the general public to access the national network of micro-dwellings.
The SHELTERA App
We’ve also developed an app for owners of multiple micro-dwellings to manage their portfolio of mini-properties. The SHELTERA app will be used to broadcast availability to users of CARA and SHELTA. It will also keep the owner informed of which dwellings are occupied at which times and by whom, assist with managing logistical matters (such as cleaning and linen-changing rotas) and keep track of which dwellings are the most profitable.
The project is still in its early stages, but we have high hopes for this model becoming the Uber for housing. We aim to solve the problem of rough sleeping and create a wealth of employment and business opportunities in assembly, installation and management of the micro-dwellings.
We’ll keep you updated on the project as it progresses, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular features on the development of our micro-dwellings and activities of our contributors.
