Movie producer Peter Samuelson worked with students from the Art Center College of design to create a portable shelter option for homeless people. The EDAR (everyone deserves a roof) unit was the result. During the day, the EDAR functions like a high tech shopping cart, and can be used to store possesions and at night it folds out into a spacious, one person tent.
The LA Times reports:
With a donation from former EBay President Jeff Skoll, he took the design to Precision Wire Products, a manufacturer of shopping carts in Commerce. Precision produced a succession of prototypes, at least nine, to address critiques of the device: too big, too small, too flimsy, not readily collapsible. The units have been thrown down flights of stairs (they’re sturdy) and left in the rain (they don’t leak).
Three months ago, Samuelson decided to distribute 60 EDARs for testing. With the help of churches, missions and shelters, he and his assistants identified chronically homeless people who could benefit from an EDAR in the short term and might be willing to develop a lasting relationship with service providers.
LA Times: “Upgrading from a cardboard box for the homeless”
[via Boing Boing]
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For some this could just be seen as downsizing!
December 18th, 2008 at 1:24 am