Seeing the story about tent people, made me wonder

[cpamomfromtexas]

If it is too far fetched to find a way to coordinate people and get an organization going similar to habitat where small homes are built by volunteers and recipients fully paid for (maybe larger than tumbleweeds houses) and using the concept similar to Amish "barn building", thus providing shelter and taking banks totally out of the mix as well?

After all, most habitat homes have mortgages, although not large ones, I'd like to see fully paid for homes program.

[Fumesucker]

1. There are tens of thousands of rv/camper vehicles around that are unused..

Page after page of them on my Craigslist for not much money in terms of housing, five grand will buy you a very nice one.

Pads to park them on with electric/water/sewer/cable/phone connections really don't cost all that much either.

Bang for the buck I can't think of a quicker or cheaper way to get people out of the elements.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Someone should find a way to make donating them a tax write-off or credit

so we can get folks into them.

[cutlassmama]

4. Homeless people don't have five grand or any way to get five grand.

Also, RV parking in/around my town in Texas is at least $400.00 month. If they are homeless they don't have $400.00 month.

Great idea though.

[Fumesucker]

6. Someone was speaking of an organization that wanted to help people get housing..

I was pointing out a way it could be done more rapidly than most and for relatively little money.

Something like a non-profit KOA was what I had in mind.

[Lionessa]

3. The problem is finding the place and putting the infrastructure in place.

Many people are more than capable of putting up four walls and a roof, but once one has done that one usually has to meet some codes regarding water, sewer, building codes for safety, it gets expensive.

However, if one did instead a huge "barn raising" (I mean build an actual large barn) and put in a couple water spigots, and some septic system, one might be able to allow many tents to be set up considerably more comfortable perhaps with some community electronics center or center as well.

Individual dwellings, I don't see that happening.

One thing though, as I drive around I see so many existing barns, not far from the Metro area, being not even used at all. If even some of those folks could be persuaded to allow camping in their barns, and RVs next to, put a hose or two out for some water availability,... a lot of newly homeless would really love that over parking at Walmart.

[cutlassmama]

5. yes, the land/monthly spot ~$400.00 month seems to be the biggest deterrent.