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.
B次元官网网址淭his is the first one, weB次元官网网址檒l be making a second prototype,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to get 30 going by the fall if we can. WeB次元官网网址檇 like to have a production house in some way where people are making and assembling them. TheyB次元官网网址檒l be able to paint them, make them their own and make them beautiful.B次元官网网址�
The idea for the pods came from discussions with the unhoused community, who told Walk With Me and Kwesa Place representatives that B次元官网网址渢hereB次元官网网址檚 a long list of things that have been thrown at people at night as they were sleeping,B次元官网网址� Karsten said.
B次元官网网址淔rom bottles, to eggs, to whatever; it was an endless list,B次元官网网址� she said.
The Campbell River and District Coalition to End Homelessness is supporting the project. In an email, the Coalition said B次元官网网址渢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.
B次元官网网址淐ombining that with local Indigenous hand-painted art makes for a creative solution to multiple concernsB次元官网网址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.B次元官网网址�
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.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not intended to be the solution in any way,B次元官网网址� Karsten said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a part of a part of a part of housing. WeB次元官网网址檇 like to have this as an emergency middle ground between sleeping in tents B次元官网网址� if people want it.B次元官网网址�
Decaire painted the design on the first prototype, which he called the B次元官网网址淎ngel PodB次元官网网址� in homage to two community members who passed away earlier this year. The design incorporates the sea trout motif, which Decaire said was B次元官网网址渙ne of those creatures thatB次元官网网址檚 always evolved through evolution. In the seas, all of the animals lived on it, so itB次元官网网址檚 part of every animal. ItB次元官网网址檚 part of the birds, part of the whales, the bears.B次元官网网址�
The idea is to have the 30 units built by the fall.
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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