(ESP) combining ultra-low-cost “shelter with dignity and hot showers” and complementary health and social services to provide a path for homeless persons to be sheltered, clean and secure, and to engage with resources that can enable progress towards their personal preferred state. The goal of the project is to demonstrate both successful results of the initial program and also to replicate further instances of the ESP in other communities. The proposed Emergency Shelter Program includes: • “Shelter with dignity and hot showers” on platform decks o 80 ft2 personal dwelling units (“O-Domes”) for individuals o 200 ft2 “U-Domes” for families or couples o Shower-Domes” o In a secure area including waste removal • Triage evaluation and intake o Assessment of immediate needs o Orientation to resources o Alignment with program requirements • Provision of food and meals o Food boxes o One hot meal per day, cooked off-site and served on-site • Case management and social services o Assessment of needs, goals and capabilities o SSI, Disability, General Relief and other financial resources o Comprehensive review and guidance regarding appropriate resources • Mental health services o Typically provided by county mental health • Medical services • Substance abuse recovery • Livelihoods – earning opportunities and skills training o Supported by our own temporary employment agency • Personal skills and capabilities, e.g. o Hygiene, safety and health o Address, phone and email o Money management assistance o Internet access The proposed Emergency Shelter Program is a new paradigm in addressing the on-going disaster of US homeless – safe private shelter and necessary services affordable by the homeless themselves. The ESP model is transferable across the US as well as to international scenarios.

Describe the critical need your solution addresses.

Status of this initiative is that all of the required capabilities for delivery of shelters and services are in place. A site is being sought in concert with local planning departments. Program design has been discussed and reviewed with agency and government officials across the US.

Participating agencies in the Emergency Shelter Program collaboration include:
o Humboldt Housing and Homeless Coalition
o Humboldt All-Faith Partnership / Arcata Night Shelter
o Mobile Medical
o Arcata Endeavor / Arcata Service Center
o Food for People
o World Shelters
o Local churches
o City and county agencies

World Shelters has created production tooling and manufacturing capacity (through Numatech West, Pomona, CA) for unlimited rapid production of the 200ft2 U-Dome, the 80ft2 O-Dome, and a fully winterized configuration of the U-Dome (with “Snow Peak” and thin-panel R18 insulation). Proven platform designs are ready to build. On-grid and off-grid heaters, power systems, hot water showers, potable water systems and toilets are all spec’d, tested and ready to deliver at wholesale cost through existing distributor agreements. World Shelters can provide “shelter with dignity and hot showers” for $2 per person per day.

All collaborating agencies are prepared to provide their respective elements of the overall program. Mental health and medical services are funded through existing and on-going federal and county programs. Partial funding from several foundations and private individuals may be available to assist with program expenses, e.g. staffing for social services and security.

Funding is needed for the shelters.

The three year evolution of this initiative is anticipated to include rapid replication initially in receptive jurisdictions in California, Washington, Texas and Florida. A successful ESP will be copied, and World Shelters will engage with multiple collaborations that have the will to achieve their own Emergency Shelter Program.

Explain your initiative in more depth and its stage of development.

World Shelters’ application of design science in the Emergency Shelter Program is more than engineering and technology. Our initiative encompasses:
• Geodesic geometry realized into a proven, fully-tooled, industrially producible line of flame-retardant, UV-resistant, light weight, compact, portable, ultra-low-cost hard panel shelters, including winterized configuration.
• Organizational tensegrity, creating a new collaborative multi-agency initiative, which is itself a replicable structure. The collaboration has common purpose and unique roles. It is adaptable to different locales and is comprehensive in its ability to evolve and scale to meet assessed needs.
• The design of the ESP elements and infrastructure, to elaborate and provide the required solutions and resources.
• The organizational structure of World Shelters, as a 501(c)3 non-profit that can provide the wherewithal to catalyze Emergency Shelter Programs where needed, and with the shelter design, development, production, logistics and deployment capabilities to meet humanitarian needs for shelter anywhere in the world

How does your strategy and approach respond creatively and comprehensively to key issues?

Bruce LeBel and Steven Elias both have a 30+ year commitment to low cost lightweight shelter for humanitarian needs.

LeBel is World Shelters’ Executive Director (volunteer). 30-year career in manufacturing operations and IT executive, management and consulting roles. Currently splits 60hr/week as president of ProStar Software, providing systems used by larger manufacturing and distribution companies.

Elias has had a 30-year career in financial management. Co-owner and executive with Flexible Funding, providing payroll financing for temp agencies. Founder of current project providing unused (tested!) FEMA trailers to tribes.

World Shelters’ BOD also includes nationally-known organizational development consultant, long-time Executive Director of national non-profit , and HSU faculty with expertise in social services.

Collaborating agencies are all established social service, medical, mental health, faith-based and other entities their own boards of directors, executive and staff.

World Shelters collaborates with international NGO’s and domestic agencies to meet their assessed needs for temporary and transitional shelter. Q-Shelter has won both of the past two evaluations by USAID for disaster-relief shelters. The evolution of World Shelters’ design and manufacturing capacity to include the extraordinary new hard-panel U-Dome and O-Dome reflects our ability and commitment to progressive delivery capacity of temporary and transitional shelter with uniquely appropriate attributes.