The innovative and progressive thinkers of today are now tackling the homeless issue facing Los Angeles. In an ideal situation homeless individuals would be placed almost immediately into permanent housing, however, this is an impractical ideal. Nonetheless a more fitting concept would be that of a transitional shelter-yet more specifically- a portable transitional shelter.
Tina Hovsepian, inventor of Cardborigami (www.Cardborigami.org), is in the development of an outreach center where the homeless can assemble their own temporary shelters. The aim is to provide an immediate transitional shelter to aid homeless individuals, and natural disasters' victims, who are in desperate need of an immediate, reliable, and portable shelter. Through this outreach program these individuals will have the opportunity to move into permanent housing.
Created in 2007, the Cardborigami is a portable shelter made of treated cardboard that is folded into an origami structure (for more info log onto the CARDBORIGAMI™ Website).The shelter folds open while in use and folds down to a fraction of its size for ease of transport. Tina Hovsepian mentioned that "anyone willing to cooperate will be taught how to build and use a Cardborigami unit, receive other social services they need, and eventually be placed into permanent housing". She went on to explain that she first plans to launch her program "through collaboration with Mike Alvidrez from Skid Row Housing Trust".
Now, while many homeless individuals can benefit greatly from transitional shelters, others require more assistance. Supportive housing can help to provide this. Currently, it is estimated that there are 150,000 chronically homeless individuals in the U.S. These are people who live in the shelter system, and are unlikely to ever earn a significant amount of money because of disabilities they possess. Yet, studies show that permanent supportive housing, housing with the appropriate services, can help them immensely in getting their lives back together and improving their futures.
According to Cardborigami, the full operation of its program will reduce the homeless count in Los Angeles by 10% within two years time. Holding the torch of her mission high, Tina envisions "a world where homelessness is nonexistent".
Who is Homeless? :
- In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year.
- 25% are U.S. military veterans.
- 25% are children under the age of 18 years.
- 30% have experienced domestic violence.
- 20-25% suffer from mental illness.
- In urban communities, people experience homelessness for an average of eight months.
- On average, people remain homeless for 6 months
(compiled by the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness)
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