Investors from a social impact bond are putting up the money to build stackable pod homes in an attempt to reduce homelessness.
A social impact bond is a contract with the public sector in which a commitment is made to pay for improved social outcomes that result in public sector savings. They don't actually profit from this until the set time is met and statistics show improvement.
Life is hard for many of us, but despite the struggles we endure we push through. There are many out there who can't get passed the issue or issues that prevent them from being motivated to want more or for those who just can't function amongst the general population. Homelessness is a serious issue and it seems that in today's times they are barely 21.
The picture above is from a post by Juan Castillo on 25 cities with extremely high homeless population. Link right below.
http://list25.com/25-cities-extremely-high-homeless-populations/
These 160 square-foot micro-apartments come with storage space, desk, and a decent sized bed.
A separate complex of pods will have job placement and mental health services for the individuals living in the community. We can only hope it works and also improves poverty.
Link to CNN on their article on stackable pods down below.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/12/05/technology/micropad-housing-san-francisco/index.html
This is beautiful, simple and elegant.... Being without a roof is plain bad experience, really glad more actionable solutions are being sought to curb homelessness...
agreed, a roof over the head
I love this idea and thanks for posting on the homeless. I gave a 100% upvote because not enough people talk about this problem. I have lived in LA for over 10 years. Since I was in 7th grade, I have had the drive to help and tell their story. I volunteer constantly and in downtown LA, skid row is a sore spot on our society.
Phil Collins song, this is why I help. It still gives me goosebumps:
Dude, I want one of those! I don't need that much space to live in. Not homeless, but fuck. More than just the homeless need affordable housing.
Those apartments floor plans look nice. Better than living in a tent or something less permanent it seems.
We have similar pods where i come from it works and the homeless really benefit from them its really nice to see.
Can you provide more information that pertains to use of these pods? I would very much like to know more about how this impacts the affected populations, to better refine my understanding of the issues, and inform my relevant operations.
Thanks!
I don't have exact detailed information, I just saw these container holmes in Eindhoven and a couple of other places.
Homeless people get some fund yet it's not enough to rent a home these pods are fairly cheap so they can afford them.
I'll see if I can search anything up online.
Thanks!
I like the idea of also having the job placement and mental health services. I had served on a non-profit Mental Health Association board for many years, and am well aware of the high percentage of the homeless that are dealing with mental health issues, as well as physical health issues.
Providing a solution for the immediate need (shelter) is best when coupled with a longer term solution to remove people that situation.
I totally agree with what you are saying. People can cope better if they know they have a decent place to live. They are more receptive to solutions.
It's very good project. Actually the resources in the world are enough for everybody, but some people want more, much more
So help me set up another blockchain like mana blokchain we simply can't have enough of those.
This is the agenda 2030 tip-toe. Public-private partnerships always are. they are presented as a gift and helping hand and then turn into regulations making huge profits by controlling human lives. If you build prisons, you're going to need prisoners to keep the investors happy. Homelessness, Inc..
Spot on, and it won't even be difficult for them to find new prisoners. According to the article on CNN: "The plan would be to lease units back to the city for approximately $1,000 per month per unit." So basically, the city (and thus the taxpayers) fund free 180sqft apartments for the homeless. Nice, free housing. There's literally no incentive for them to leave, and there may actually be incentive for the employed to quit their jobs and get free housing too! The long run trend of this means everyone is "homeless" in city-leased units, and no taxpayers are left. It's a compassionate and well-intentioned idea, but without some serious checks in place to make sure it doesn't get abused, this will not be sustainable in the slightest.
The jails in my area are used as 'overflow' homeless shelters. Some belief apparently exists that people will prefer checking into jails for a cot for the night, even though they are subject to the same controls as court mandated captives during their tenancy.
The mind boggles...
This really is an awesome idea, they look so nice.
it is a awesome idea but how are they build like 1 millon of houses for all homeless?
nice city
I like this great idea and hope it'll be successfully realised
There should be such a solution for everybody not jist homeless people.
I rent an apt and I hate having to spend so much onlf my money on rent. And it's no option. One must live somewhere.
Bro @joseph, This is excellent idea for the homeless people around us. These homeless people are suffering from lots of diseases for staying dirty roadside area, they suffer in raining season for raining, fogs and cold in winter season. So if this idea is executed properly i hope that will be very helpful for the homeless people around us.
sometime we go much further for a solution. But most of the time we forget to look around us for the solution. tnx for sharing.
nice concept, if it turns to reality
#reality #life
Thanks @joseph for the information.
@petoz, thanks for the read. I hope it inspires us all to contribute in some way.
I've seen several ideas for small apartment like places for the homeless. I've even seen homeless villages. Why every city and larger towns do not have these, I do not understand.
It can be a great idea, as long as there are certain needs met of the tenants. Homeless folks often aren't able to tolerate various social pressures, for whatever reason, and take to the streets for relief.
Homeless shelters are damn near jails, and some require that you attend religious services, or other institutional degradations, for a bed.
Things like that will really not serve a significant population of the homeless.
Lastly, access to stores, downtown, laissez faire rules regarding various vices (clearly drawing necessary lines, even though this will preclude some participants from being able to be served), etc., reflecting the needs of the population will also require some attention.
I was homeless last year, and only purchased my current home a couple months ago, so have some experience in the area. I'm not talking out a posterior orifice, in other words.
Thanks!
@valued-customer, congratulations on your home and being not succumbing to the state prior. I've had many friends who have had struggles in life and due to the unfortunate events they too were homeless. Some couldn't escape and few were able to accomplish what you have. I'm happy for you.
I couldn't agree more with everything you said. Most places are just the way you described them to be and that can alter someone's desire to be there if it feels like they have given up a cot for a decent bed under the same scrutiny and restrictions they had to face at other locations. I hope that those issues are being discussed with solutions on the way. Thanks for commenting and sharing your story with us.
@joseph It's always good to see investors and entrepreneurs impacting their communities in a positive way. What a great initiative! These pods would be life savers for the homeless and less fortunate.
@albertfall, I agree... Glad you threw in the less fortunate :)
Life is unpredictable and anyone can end up homeless or less fortunate at a moments notice. Thanks again for sharing this post with us.
Great idea, and good job for making a post on the homeless. Now let's just hope the execution doesn't go down the toilet.
This idea is great and useful. I wish to have a house like this.
This is brilliant. I applaud their efforts.
I think these could be a great thing for many homeless individuals, and even better at preventing people on the edge from falling into homelessness, if they are priced low enough. However, I think the solution to homelessness isn't in creating ghettoes of tiny homes for people to live in poverty more comfortably.
We need to change the way we zone things in cities and what we incentivize with our tax structures to maintain a proper proportion of housing is built and there is a relationship between allowable rents and median incomes in a city.
Additionally, we need to address the problem of the distribution of wealth and income, which is resulting in higher and higher proportions of Americans being unable to afford basic necessities during record GDP growth.
These pods could be a very nice relief to some people who are suffering now, but it is not a societal solution. At best, this will result in a high concentration of poverty in a small area, which may in the long run exacerbate the very poverty they were intended to alleviate.
seems like a great idea to me
Beautiful post! Was just having a conversation on this topic over Thanksgiving with an insightful cousin. Getting people off the streets, under a roof safe from immediate harm with access to water and food, and people will start to sparkle again.
Great post buddy ! May they be blessed with housing and food .
https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/making-a-difference-rick-james/
Thank you for this post, Joseph! Great information. Here's another great story about people taking action within the homeless community. He builds little houses called "homies" and gives them to those who are in need. He's made it less about giving them a roof and more about helping them to move on. They get a key to their own place with storage and a bed, and can rest easy that their stuff will be safe while they're out trying to get back on their feet. He's a really great guy. Him and his wife both do a lot for those in need around Washougal, Washington. I love to see this kind of humanitarian work getting noticed. People help others pretty often, but there are some "out of the box thinkers" who are able to shine a big light on a big issue that affects whole communities, not just one or two people on the street. And this thread of comments is great because it keeps the conversation going, pushing us closer to a solution.
that's a great idea. I hope it will not include politics or this idea will be business.
Nice picture
looks liek the containerized version of the typical Tokyo appartment complex
They aren't much bigger, too.
Good design can solve so many problems. Great concept!
good idea, thank you for sharing :D
Awesome post friend.
I like your all content because your content type and quality is so good.
best of luck go ahead friend.
I have been homeless three or four times in my life: At least three in Los Angeles and once here in Jerusalem. My attitude is OK towards it. The worst thing is that there are no half way measures for the homeless community. Maybe the pods are a good answer to the issue once and for all. Thanks for the post!
Thanks for stopping by and reading. I hope all is well or in the process for you in Jerusalem.
Thank you
I love this idea. I am drawing up plans for my own tiny home. Love the concept. Being and adventurer, I usually live out of a backpack anyway.
The solution to homelessness is not technical, we have to learn how to better redistribute wealth.
This solution is much needed in countries like Bangladesh. Investment will be a huge problem though.
excelente publicación amigo, un análisis sorprendente felicidades y te invito a ver mi post https://steemit.com/travel/@felixrodriguez/venezuela-where-the-danger-is-that-you-will-want-to-stay
@felixrodrigues, muchas gracias y le pongo ojo a tu pagina. thank you :)
nice post
good info
About 5 years ago there used to be a little mini-house on the side of the road next to the highway, I'm not sure why it was there as it was on blocks, and I always thought that size pod would be perfect for solving the homeless problem and how it's just being wasted there. Shortly after I discovered that people had already started doing it. It motivated me to start a homeless charity, however; it's never been able to be a top priority. As crypto's grow, I see that more as a possibility. It makes me happy to see other people are doing the same. I feel with the power of cryptocurrencies the homeless problem can and will be solved.
I really think things like this are needed in this world! The idea is great, I just wonder how other people would react to it since it looks incredible
@joseph thanks for sharing. The pods may not resolve the problem but it is however encouraging to see people move in the right direction to help solve this problem.
@schulbz, very true. Humanity is taking the right steps though. If we all somehow, someway contribute we can all see a difference and feel the difference.
If everyone even but shares the information we would be in a much better place! Information is a powerful tool so let's share away!
Homelessness is a sad thing to be reminded of in a society that demands conformity. So many different reasons why homeless exists, but at the end of the day we all live to the best of our ability. Sometimes our best is not enough to keep up, not because some people are lazy or worthless, but because a lot of roads all have ditches.
I've personally witnessed the "not in my backyard" reaction people have to helping the homeless in my hometown. There is a men's shelter that has taken years to open in my town because a lot of neighbors nearby fought it, and it eventually ended up opening and the red tape disappeared when a homeless man last winter burned alive while living in a friends minivan, having fallen asleep with a lamp burning for heat which fell over and lit the inside on fire. But even then, a year later the red tape is right back up. people forget easily the tragedy of those society cannot or will not help. It's not something you can get rid of forever, you can only have compassion, or not.
As wonderful as this idea is, I have a weird conundrum with it. If a solution to homelessness is to give people homes, we already have enough vacant housing to do this. In fact, for every homeless person, comparing their numbers to the available houses, there's actually a large enough volume of homes that the homeless quite literally can pick and choose where to go.
https://trofire.com/2015/07/21/3-5-million-americans-are-homeless-18-6-million-homes-in-america-are-standing-empty-what-is-wrong-with-this-picture/
That said, helping the homeless needs to go beyond just homes. They, first and foremost, need to be treated as human beings and not some sort of plague. As someone who used to live in New York, it's profoundly dark to see how normal it was for people to just walk by the homeless as if they were no different than trash in the street. The way we normalize the plight of others is of issue too, as we blame people as if they exist in bubbles, failing to realize in many cases, especially today, it's systemic. There is a lot that goes into poverty today and homelessness, and that starts with an expansion of precarious conditions.
Homeless people will also need help with addictions, mental health, assuring access to baseline needs, the works. We must not ever forget those things and understand a home is a foundation, a type of "ground zero" for their wellbeing, and whatever we can do there, we should. If we give them a home and no other aid, the home simply becomes the place where their problems fester. We must fully "cleanse the pallet" as it were.
This is exactly the kind of project that should be hosting an ico and getting funding to do that city to city.. it’s awesome though. It’s well needed. I personally could be totally happy in one. Save money while I hodl my coins right :) the economy for young adults is to say the least harder than we’re given credit for.
A solution like this would defiantly help the people where I live. There are so many that live out in the open under a tarp. After we find good solutions for housing, then need to find solutions to help these people get back to work, so they can provide for themselves and their families.
welcome to the projects!
@davidjonysteemit