Shelter is one of the basic human need that every living person should have. A home helps in protecting you from environmental factors and gives you a place to relax after a long day. However, it’s something millions live without each day.

Based on Statista, the number of homeless people increased to 567,715 in 2019.

Some of the factors that contribute to homelessness are the lack of affordable housing, tighter mortgage regulation, rising poverty levels and decline of social sector housing as a proportion of all housing.

Due to these factors, more and more people are forced to live on the streets.

That’s why a group of volunteers created a plan to help resolve this issue.

The Conestoga Hut

Community Supported Shelters is a nonprofit organization that helps supply low-cost housing solutions to their neighbors in need. The plan was to build a Conestoga Hut.

The man behind this project was Erik de Buhr of Eugene, Oregon.

He designed the Conestoga Hut to provide temporary shelter for the homeless people. It was based on the Conestoga wagons that were used to carry settlers across the U.S. to the western states. These tiny houses are way cheaper and easier to assemble than other houses.

If you’re wondering if these Conestoga Huts are strong to withstand natural calamities, here is what Erik has to say.

“They are weatherproof,” Erik explained. “They’re insulated. They’re lockable, which is really important because a lot of people on the street lose their stuff.”

The Conestoga Hut has about 60 square feet of living space inside. It’s a 6 by 10 foot shelter that can be built for only $250 – $500. It can be similar to a tent, but it has a lot of features that a tent doesn’t have.

For one, the Conestoga Hut is a highly insulated and lockable space. A person can reap the benefits of a normal home with this hut. Moreover, these economical and functional shelters can be instrumental in the transition from camp to village.

The hut has four components: a basic 6 by 10 foot insulated floor, two insulated walls in the front and back, and a metal wire roof. The roofing frame is covered with insulation and outdoor vinyl.

Although the Conestoga Huts aren’t as warm as a conventional home, it still provides a warm and substantial living space than a recreational tent. Think about having a warm place to stay during the night and a safe place to lock your belongings during the day. It can truly make a huge difference to those who need it the most.

With this, Oregon has approved five parking lots throughout Eugene and Walla Walla where people can safely sleep in their cars, tents, or Conestoga Huts.

The Community Supported Shelters

The organization aims to provide shelters that are cost-effective and durable for people to have a sense of security and home. Due to this goal, many volunteers have come forward to help the homeless individuals. One volunteer is Jim Schmidt.

Jim has pitched in to build Conestoga Huts in each city-approved lot.

“Giving them a little bit of a helping hand — people who have fallen on difficult times — that’s all we’re doing,” he said.

The Success Stories

Thanks to the volunteers and organizations, many people benefited from the Conestoga Huts.

James Clapp lives in a Conestoga Hut village for veterans and said the security of having shelter has helped him prepare to make permanent changes in his living situation.

“I would say this place pretty much saved my life,” James Clapp, a resident on one of the Conestoga hut, said “Where I’m going to go from here? I’m looking for new employment opportunities.”

Another success story is a man named Patrick.

“I had heard about the Huts, had seen them from a distance but I had never been in one. Once I got it, I was like, ‘Wow, this is like a castle.’ It really is. Just to be able to stand up in the morning, simple things like that, it really is a Godsend. As simple as it’s built, I thought, ‘Wow, this could really go a long way, to help a lot of people.’”

May this empowering and inspiring story encourage more cities and people to create ways to solve homelessness.

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Source: CommunitySupporedShelters , Inspiremore