About
Tipis, Chum and Lavvu
Over time, these handcrafted shelters have been adapted to provide safety and protection in most regions and weather conditions, including temperatures below freezing.
With practice, two people can assemble a tipi in just around an hour. Damaged tipi materials can be addressed as needed with torn canvas covers being patched or replaced.
Health Care and Case Management
Programs like the Mt. Carmel Housing Outreach Program provide a crucial case management system, aiding unsheltered individuals in gaining access to essential, but normally unaffordable healthcare services and products.
After dedicating space for the basics, those in need of assistance are given a recognizable presence. This increases their likelihood of receiving critical mental, physical, spiritual and addiction support on their way to sustainability.
Water and Sanitation
Supplying the basics also means every location would receive additional vital resources such as portable drinking water, laundry, bathroom and sanitation utilities.
On-site options like mobile laundry, portable toilets and trash receptacles can be placed in close proximity to each area and serviced on a bi-weekly basis to maintain cleanliness.
Everything Else
Eco-friendly options like pavegen flooring and solar panels offer storable and sustainable energy generation in scenarios where longer access to shelter is required. Foodscaping could provide food security and an element of self-sustainability.
With basic needs met through synergism, the allocation of funds towards other resources becomes possible. This arrangement can maintain its accessibility for those who lose their primary shelter and have nowhere else to rest.
"We found that governments and society benefit more than they spend by providing last resort housing to the homeless. This is mainly through reduced healthcare costs, reduced crime, and people getting back into employment or education.”