A local organization is helping the homeless population by building housing units in shipping containers.
WeCan Shelter Society Co-founder Charlene Davis says they got the idea five years ago.
“People were starting to recognize that the structural integrity of the containers would lead to a lot of different architectural challenges and solutions, and it was becoming a very in-thing to do,” said Davis.
“The lightbulb moment was that shipping containers are so sustainable that we can house people with issues and problems and recognize that we can maintain some level of investment so we can house future people.”
Davis says since they don’t get government funding, they make three or four units a year, with a core team assigned to build the units.
The building process includes buying the unit, taking it to a welder to cut holes for the doors and windows, painting them, and having the team come in and build the home.
Davis says the homeless population has a variety of needs when it comes to housing.
“Some homeless people cannot live in a group setting, some of them don’t feel safe living in apartment blocks, and some of them need a level of help beyond us,” said Davis.
“For the people that we’re able to help, we are able to take them from moving their shopping cart around the Valley to a place where they have a door they can lock, feel secure, cook for themselves, have an address, and support systems in place.”
She says the solution to homelessness worldwide is giving people housing first.
This Saturday they are holding a grand opening for two new units, 10 and 11.
It’s taking place at Maple Pool Campground, starting at 12.
