Should we talk about homeless shelters on this forum?

[GPW]

What about a foamie' ? Quick and easy ... maybe just slap a coat of paint on it (sprayed on ) inside and out ...

 

[mikeschn]

What about a foamie' ? Quick and easy ... maybe just slap a coat of paint on it (sprayed on ) inside and out ...

Hey Glenn,

A foamie is a good idea, and so is coroplast. But they have to be deployed where security is not an issue. The problem with coroplast, and probably foam too, is that a box cutter will go right through it.

But how about this...

A layer of foam, a layer of aluminum, and then another layer of foam. A box cutter trying to get in would hit the aluminum, and be stopped.

Mike...

 

[GPW]

Trying to keep out the “Urban Street Bears"  ??? They are usually equipped with more than a box cutter... That is an unforeseen complication to an otherwise simple problem ...

 

[mezmo]

It's YOUR forum Mike, you can include any topic as a thread
that you want to. You've been more than generous and very
open minded with everything. If people don't care to read it
as it isn't specifically TD/TTT connected, then they don't have to
open it. I think it is a great additional topic and source for
methods/approaches to building small - and maybe members
could contribute something that would be of use for you in
this design area.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

 

[SuperiorBound]

I would be very interested, might give a few of us ideas on how we might help if possible in our own neighborhoods if we are so inclined.

 

[GerryS-TNT]

Security is probably of minimal concern. Anything you build here will be vulnerable to attack. Easily. You can't realistically fortify something this size unless you are building with concrete and embedded rebar. Wood or foam is no march for some one who wants inside. Locks are only going to keep pit the honest person. In those, a lock is probably equivalent to hanging a sign that says "valuables inside"

 

[legojenn]

When I first saw the topic, I thought that this could be one of those polarising subjects that could be up there with the firearms debate of a few months ago. However, there is much to be gained by developing and discussing minimalist shelters for short to medium lengths of time, especially in situations where the lack of housing is situational. Examples that I can think of are disasters and remote temporary work situations. Something like this might even be practical for seasonal camping and cottage overflow situations.

I wish you all the best and hope to see some creative ideas come out of it.

 

[mikeschn]

Trying to keep out the “Urban Street Bears"  ??? They are usually equipped with more than a box cutter... That is an unforeseen complication to an otherwise simple problem ...

I guess one of the things we need to do is define security, and which level of security we are building to.

Mike...

 

[Verna-TNT]

Mike, the level of security is something that may not be as important as insulated and dry.

Two months ago, the city of Indianapolis gave notice to vacate to a large "colony" of the homeless who were camped out under a railroad overpass. They all seemed to have simple 5x5 or smaller tents, with their possessions inside and in grocery carts. The railroad company needed to make repairs to the overpass, but couldn't with the people living underneath.

So, if they are now living in tents, insulation and dry would seem to be the most important factor in your homeless shelters. We all know that tents certainly aren't very secure.

(I've noticed that there is another railroad overpass that is also home to lots of tents, so it wasn't just this location that used tents.)

 

[mikeschn]

Verna,

Insulated and dry is what Glenn suggested with the foamie. Maybe in some cases that is all we need. And in other cases we might need more.

In the Ohio River Valley where the first 2 pods are, they must get a lot of wind. I'll bet those foamies might blow over... especially without the ballast... i.e. 500 pounds of beer!

Mike...

 

[Verna-TNT]

Mike, I guess I should have also said a solid exterior. Sorry about that misunderstanding.

There are a lot of crimes within the homeless community that a solid sleeping pod would help prevent. I liked the insulation you put inside the first pod you delivered, but the solid OSB exterior was the best.

 

[grantstew8]

Sips panels are 1200 (4') wide x 2400 (8') and 4800(16') and various thicknesses.
By turning these into components by cutting a panel in half vertically and/ or horizontally allows almost any shape to be designed and simply erected. A flat pack can be created and with basic tools and skills can be erected quickly.
Okay it's not as cheap as a tent.

I've spent years kicking designs around. The critical dimension is the roof span max 4800 16' in any one direction. From there the design is limited by the costs of doors and windows.

I've an office 12' x 30' that is warmed using a 2kw heater with the thermostat set at 1 the lowest setting When the sun shines it's toasty and I'm talking about mid winter in Scotland.

 

[mikeschn]

Mike, I guess I should have also said a solid exterior. Sorry about that misunderstanding.

There are a lot of crimes within the homeless community that a solid sleeping pod would help prevent. I liked the insulation you put inside the first pod you delivered, but the solid OSB exterior was the best.

Verna,

#1 used 5mm moisture resistant luan throughout. I was trying to make it light. Then afterwords I added insulation.

#2 used 7/16 OSB for the front and rear, 1/4" OSB for the sides, and 5mm moisture resistant luan for the roof. The insulation was captured in between the spars and the skins.

The OSB pod was quite a bit heavier to move. But I suppose they are both wind resistant to a point... And they are both solid exterior. So you like the OSB better than the luan?

Mike...

 

[Verna-TNT]

Mike, either one is good. I guess in my haste to make sure you understood I wasn't referring to a foamie, I just remembered the OSB on the door. As long as there is insulation in the pods, it 's a great thing r94 all seasons. In the Habitat for Humanity builds that I have helped on, they used OSB because it was less expensive than plywood. So, whichever one you use is fine-- both Luan and OSB are used in stick built homes.

 

[Miriam C.]

Great idea. Doesn't matter what your political or social leanings are, shelters are needed for lots of reasons.

We had a lot of experience with sheltering people here, and most of our churches survived so it was not an extreme issue like in the Philippines. I just wonder if things had been different and our damage more wide spread.....

I will include a utube site I happened across where a Ti-pee was made of coroplast. Folded and worked great but would need tie-downs.

 

[Prem-TNT]

Mike asked:

Should we talk about homeless shelters on this forum?...Your thoughts please.

Here's another vote for Yes. ...cuz when I leave the home behind, hit the road and camp out, I'm technically homeless. I think that the homeless shelter I am currently towing is pretty good, but I am always looking for a better homeless shelter.

 

[darrellbeck]

I think this could be appropriate here, as a section of it's own, since it involves the construction of small shelters. Ideas that get put into play with these shelters may have a lot of crossover and end up being ideas that people can also use in the construction of their teardrops and tiny travel trailers. How can more good construction ideas be a bad thing??

That being said.....I would also add to the concerns voiced about keeping the politics out of it. I am also on a Cruisers Forum for boaters and one of the ugliest threads I have ever seen started out as a thread about boats being a viable alternative housing option for homeless people. Folks who had been friends on the forum for years ended up fighting like cats and dogs. Administrators had to lock out that thread, and several others that have come up on the topic since. (It seems like there is always someone who wants to keep the fight going and will just go start another thread about it.) It has become a real bone of contention that, once started, has been hard to stop.

It is obvious that this forum is no longer strictly about teardrops and tiny travel trailers anymore anyway, and for some people almost has a Facebook aspect to it where they want to post all their life status updates all the time. In some ways I get that because a lot of us have met other members camping and have become friends, although I do think that if you have come here looking for INFORMATION sometimes wading through all that stuff can be daunting. Personally, I have been here long enough to know how to pick through the posts. I think one thing that might help that for those less initiated to the forum would be to tighten up the definition of the "General Discussion" section so that it is general discussion of teardrops and tiny travel trailers only, and have all the Facebook type stuff go in the off topic section.

I have to agree with this 100%. I have seen too many friendships ruined, clubs broken up, and enemies made over politics and religion. This subject needs to be on a single topic thread if it is on this site at all. I do believe, however, that some of the ideas the members of T&TTT have had would also be valuable in the design of these little shelters. Because of this, and the obvious need to do something about the homeless problem, I would vote (while no vote was asked for) for a separate, heavily monitored, thread.

 

[Prem-TNT]

Totally agree with that. Well said too.

 

[grantstew8]

This is the first forum I've joined and really got a lot from and hopefully contributed something too.

I found this site because it specialised in teardrops tiny trailer. This new thread/discussion although related to building small spaces, is not related to tnttt
Although heart breaking to see homelessness of any description, it may be worth considering having a separate homeless house pod forum. Our motivation, skills and a desires, may take a specialised forum off in another direction albeit kindhearted and well intentioned.
It is likely that through search engines more members will join based on the homeless section rather than a group of tnttt builders kicking ideas around. (Good ideas)

I'd rather see a completely separate forum than including homelessness on tnttt. The forum will risk becoming confusing and losing focus. The focus on tnttt is its essence and appeal.

$0.02.

 

[aggie79-HILO]

I say give it a go here, but if the topic takes off, it may warrant a new site.