I recently saw old truck containers converted into apartments. Some were stacked on top of each other. They

Question

can be relocated, so are good for temporary or emergency use. My question is ...How can they be used to help the homeless and what is the best way to get people involved and making it happen. I would love to see young people organize and help governments implement some ideas with old truck containers. Because they can be lifted and moved about would make them good halfway homes etc.

Answer 1

You're on exactly the same page as me. 2 years ago, I bought 8 x 40' containers to store some of the product I import from overseas when the same question dawned on me.

After researching home coversions, I found it is commonly done throughout the US, and many articles and venders have written on the subject:
http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/Converting_Shipping_Containers_for_Housing-Building_Systems-A2382.html

The concept is brilliant, and cheap - until we realize the "people" behind the scenes in many of our gov't institutions - well paid contracters, subcontracters somehow related to top officials. That doesn't in the least say we wouldn't have a good chance at seeing your idea implemented - the Media would catch onto it in a second.

This is what you do and how you get famous:

- First: my secret to you - Evergreen - a major worldwide shipper sold me 8 of these in 2005 Wholesale - directly from their NY port - shipped to Toronto for free for $1250.- top $1425.00 per container, depending on how much they were banged up on the outside. (which means nothing after a coat of paint.) Cheap?!!! Amazingly cheap.


Plan:
- Find everything you know about how these are converted and the costs associated
- Milk as many people as possible with Habitat for Humanity to get your ideas implemented, including wheter you could sell them non profit to municipalities and so forth.
- And yes even selling them to Fema - using their substandard inhumane way they handled New Orleans situation as the driving force for your arguments.
- Write congress once you make a business plan which would be something simple to this effect:

"XYZ number of people are homeless, because america doesn't have enough money. America spent XYZ on homeless shelters etc, which equates to XYZ per person (and it'll be in the 10's of thousands)
We came up with a better solution whereas a family of 4 can temporarily live in one of our converted units for as little as XYZ ($8000.00 guess) per container. The units can be transported with ease, and easily get trucked or railed to areas in need ot temporary housing."

Then you do the magic: Send a video or letter to every news source in your city and make a good video presentation on Youtube. Theres tons of people there who will produce first class productions for free - just to get the publicity when your idea becomes big.

My thoughts: Go for it!!

Answer 2

ISO containers ARE a very interesting construction material, and have an incredible potential for temporary / emergency shelter use. Not only can they be LIFTED, they can be stacked 5-6 HIGH for storage!

I've seen plans for their use in that context down in Australia. I wish I could find the link.

Sadly, here in the USA, their use in such a form would be forbidden by law !! They don't provide all the amenities that our greedy politicians dictate as required in "emergency shelter". And here in the USA, we probably have the MOST empty ISO containers thanks to our trade-imbalance with China.

My Brother and I took two containers and used them as part of the framework / backbone for his ranch's new barn.

I used 4 to build an almost storm-proof home in the Philippines.

I wish you LUCK in your endeavor.

Answer 3

Why don't you write your congressman and have him amend the requirements for what constitutes an emergency shelter so that these may be used as an emergency emergency shelter :)

Maybe include a petition, too

Answer 4

They can help keep them out of the rain as in a form of shelter.
As to get people involved the bst way is to get people passionate about it.