The tiniest of efforts could soon be making a huge difference for those experiencing homelessness in at least one B.C. community.
Last week, poverty advocates in Campbell River unveiled the first prototype of a new portable, wooden tiny home pod. As designed by Shawn Decaire of the warming centre Kwesa Place, the pods can be transported like a wheelbarrow during the day, giving people a lockable space to store their belongings. Then, at night, people using the pods can extend a section out, providing just enough room to lay down and sleep.
害羞草研究所淭his is the first one, we害羞草研究所檒l be making a second prototype,害羞草研究所� said Sharon Karsten, executive director of the co-sponsoring drug crisis response group Walk With Me, who was seeing the pod for the first time.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 like to get 30 going by the fall if we can. We害羞草研究所檇 like to have a production house in some way where people are making and assembling them. They害羞草研究所檒l be able to paint them, make them their own and make them beautiful.害羞草研究所�
The idea for the pods came from discussions with the unhoused community, who told Walk With Me and Kwesa Place representatives that 害羞草研究所渢here害羞草研究所檚 a long list of things that have been thrown at people at night as they were sleeping,害羞草研究所� Karsten said.
害羞草研究所淔rom bottles, to eggs, to whatever; it was an endless list,害羞草研究所� she said.
The Campbell River and District Coalition to End Homelessness is supporting the project. In an email, the Coalition said 害羞草研究所渢he potential of this concept to provide both a space to keep people up off the ground as well as to replace the use of some carts is really exciting.
害羞草研究所淐ombining that with local Indigenous hand-painted art makes for a creative solution to multiple concerns害羞草研究所e look forward to seeing how this project unfolds over the coming months and hope that we can bring the community together to discuss how to make this successful for Campbell River.害羞草研究所�
The hard shell of the wooden pod will offer some protection for those inside. There is also fire resistant insulation in the design as well as windows that can be opened and closed from the inside. The pods are also lockable from both the inside and outside, which will offer protection to those inside overnight, and protection for their belongings during the day.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not intended to be the solution in any way,害羞草研究所� Karsten said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a part of a part of a part of housing. We害羞草研究所檇 like to have this as an emergency middle ground between sleeping in tents 害羞草研究所� if people want it.害羞草研究所�
Decaire painted the design on the first prototype, which he called the 害羞草研究所淎ngel Pod害羞草研究所� in homage to two community members who passed away earlier this year. The design incorporates the sea trout motif, which Decaire said was 害羞草研究所渙ne of those creatures that害羞草研究所檚 always evolved through evolution. In the seas, all of the animals lived on it, so it害羞草研究所檚 part of every animal. It害羞草研究所檚 part of the birds, part of the whales, the bears.害羞草研究所�
The idea is to have the 30 units built by the fall.
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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