Comments on: Innovative Long Term Housing Solutions in Haiti

By: Frank Schooley

Frank Schooley — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:40:27 +0000

Greetings,
We have developed a completely new idea for disaster housing, Shelter In A Day. We assure you that if you look it over, we'll make you two promises, one: that you have not seen anything like it anywhere and two: it is the most sensible design you have seen for disaster relief. Our house ships flat and assembles in a couple of hours using just included hammers and muscle power. Safe, strong and secure and inexpensive, this shelter is designed to last through the transition from tents/tarps to permanent housing. Please take a few minutes and see our interesting 2-1/2 minute video on our website at: http://www.shelterinaday.com

Thanks

Frank Schooley
Designer

By: Jim Harron

Jim Harron — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:55:35 +0000

Hi Tom,

Came across your mail to Shaun.

There is also a great demand for low cost housing in South Africa.

Would it be possible to send me more info on your houses?

Regards,

Jim Harron

By: Tom Navratil

Tom Navratil — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:57:48 +0000

Hi Shaun,

I have a long term solution for low cost housing if you are still interested. Not only are our houses low-cost but are also highly earthquake resistant which unfortunately was proven in another recent earthquake. If you are interested in more info or have any questions, please email me.
Thanks and have a great day!
Tom

By: Lynn Fritz

Lynn Fritz — Sun, 02 May 2010 21:39:31 +0000

Shaun — more info. on Lifeline's "Homes for Haiti" program:

- All materials are purchased locally in Haiti (in Grand Goave, in Lifeline's case)
- Even the steel for the roofing system is purchased from a Haitian mill
- Cement blocks are fabricated locally
- Sand and stone used for concrete flooring are from the local area
- The 75 bags of cement needed per house is made in Haiti
- Only the corrugated roofing is imported, but even that is purchased locally
- All labor is local Haitian labor, with the assistance of Lifeline's short-term "Laborlink" mission work team members when available. But homes are built on an ongoing basis in Haiti, even when no U.S. work teams are present.
- Masonry construction is a benefit since masonry is a more common skill in Haiti than carpentry for the local work force.
- Being able to build these houses on relatively small lots of land is a benefit since land acquisition can be difficult in Haiti.

When I spoke with Bob DeVoe of Lifeline about this last week, I asked him if their approach to home-building in Haiti is scalable and reproducible throughout the country, and he said, "Absolutely. Especially if masonry workers are available." Bob also said that Lifeline would be happy to share house plans and information about their program with other interested organizations that might want to replicate the approach. Through the years, Bob has investigated and evaluated many, many different plans and ideas for building homes in Haiti and has settled on their approach as the most cost-effective and do-able long-term solution.

If you are interested in finding out more or talking with Bob directly, feel free to e-mail me with your e-mail address, and I will pass it on to Bob (probably will more easily cut through the volume of his e-mail if we do it that way.)

By: Lynn Fritz

Lynn Fritz — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:16:15 +0000

(Sorry for the delayed reply) Yes, I have volunteered with Lifeline for 7 or 8 years, and my husband is on their Board of Directors. I went to Haiti on a ladies' mission trip with Lifeline in 2008, and it changed my life forever and gave me a passion to help Haiti and the incredible Haitian people. Lifeline knows the "lay of the land" in Haiti and has a wide network of contacts throughout the country. After the earthquake, Lifeline's Grand Goave complex became a base of operations for the U.S. Navy's work in the area. Based on their experience with Lifeline, the U.S. military asked them to oversee food distribution in the area surrounding LIfeline's Port au Prince Children's Home. If you go to Lifeline.org and click on "Relief Effort Updates," you can scroll down to see stories of some of the partnerships Lifeline has developed in Haiti, including the U.S. military, Kids Against Hunger, Impact Lives, Meals from the Heartland, etc. For several years, Lifeline has served as a conduit to distribute food to around 40 other mission organizations throughout Haiti. In mid-March, Lifeline hosted a visit from Lt. General Ken Keen (3 star general) U.S. Army Rangers, who is head of the entire U.S. military operation for Haiti. He is the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Southern Command throughout the Americas. He had asked to see Lifeline's work there. Founders Bob and Gretchen DeVoe are visionaries and big thinkers like you, Shaun.

By: Lynn Fritz

Lynn Fritz — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:56:48 +0000

Check out http://www.lifeline.org/projects/HomesForHaiti.ht... Lifeline Christian Mission has been working on the ground in Haiti for 30 years, and have a 7-acre complex in Grand Goave, as well as a children's home in Port au Prince area and churches and schools throughout the country. Founders Bob and Gretchen DeVoe are dynamos doing amazing things in Christ's name in Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador, and Cuba. Also see Lifeline Christian Mission on Facebook and LifelineCM on Twitter. LOVE what you're doing, Shaun! Your passion is contagious.

By: @ShaunKing

@ShaunKing — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:02:28 +0000

Have you worked with Lifeline before?

By: @ShaunKing

@ShaunKing — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:01:25 +0000

Much talk of this solution. Looking for someone doing in Haiti now. Know anybody?

By: @ShaunKing

@ShaunKing — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:59:46 +0000

I am having trouble with the link. Is the site working right now?

By: @ShaunKing

@ShaunKing — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:59:06 +0000

Tell me more Joshua. I clicked on the link, but I would like your laymen's breakdown please.