Low Income Housing

[JohnB]

I just recently read the book Nickeled and Dimed. The book being from the late 90's to early 2000s was a bit dated but the information within still holds true I believe. Since the book was written us in the US have seen gas prices rise greatly from what we are use too. We have gone through the housing bubble burst and are now in the midst of a world recession not to mention the debt crises and the credit crunch. Perhaps, an energy crises, water crises, and food crises are yet to come. If nothing else all this should show we as a species need to wake up and see we need to start doing things differently and many of us are starting too do just that but to what numbers and what degree I do not know.
Unemployment an underemployment is also an issue. In my area housing is not an issue. At least not until you look at low income housing. A lot of public housing has been torn down in the city to make way for other construction and is not being replaced. This has partly been done to make way for commercial construction and partly to clean up parts of the least desirable parts of the city. This move does nothing to address the need for low income housing. It just forces this segment of the population to move elsewhere if they can or go homeless. Not to mention it pushes them further away from where they can find jobs.
Fortunately, my area has a lower cost of living than the national average and the state average. Recession here has not hit as hard as it has in many other parts of the nation or the world for that matter. Still though the need for low cost housing is evident just by looking around at living accommodations around town. I believe low income housing is always in need and should be part of infrastructure design. I ask myself if domes are the answer, possibly but, I can't see why they can't be part of the equation.
I've also come to conclude by internet research and striking up conversations that the only reason for low income housing is not income. Surprisingly people are down sizing for various reasons and choosing to live in smaller more economical housing. For example, loft apartments in the city are striving. This housing which once was considered low income housing is now trendy and it has seen its rents sore do to supply and demand further putting those in need of low income housing at stress. I have also come across those that are downsizing for a ECO lifestyle or minimalist lifestyle, downgrading their accommodations to live life simplified, then using their resources to pursue other interest. Yet, another use for low income housing is transitional housing. Many need this type of housing that is also not built into our infrastructure. Those in need of short term housing include, college students, construction workers, underemployed, and people who have just experienced life changing events divorce, health issues, death, foreclosure etc. Whatever the reason the need for low income housing is in need more than ever before.
I have researched several low income structures that I personally have the means to build. Domes being one of them. Their not the cheapest structure I could build but perhaps the best due to their energy efficiency, low maintenance and durability. If domes can work here as low income housing, transitional housing or to fill some niche market I conclude they would work most anywhere in America. Building domes in or around large cities that have been hit hard by the recession is well a "No brainer". I suggest that if you have the means and live in a large metropolitan area with high rents that you consider building small domes.

Just my two cents...

JohnB

[cindysteele]

JohnB,

Thank you for your insight about our country's dilemma about low income housing. My name is Cynthia and I am David South's assistant.

We would love nothing more than to populate the entire country with our rental units called Io20's. The problem again is the government and citizens in the populated areas. They don't want our quirky little buildings close to them. We have, so far, only been able to build our rental units in the county outside the city limits where zoning is not an issue nor restrictions.

It's educating the politicians that is the hard part. Once we get them to understand the need we may be able to kill two birds with one stone, and that is to build low income housing and create jobs to build them.

If you know a way to do that and want to start building these we would be glad to help you. Thank you again.

Cynthia

[JohnB]

Cynthia thanks for the reply,

I have been very busy lately but have been using my little free time to continue learning about my local rental environment and the feasibility of domes. I have looked at public housing, apartments, duplexes, quadplexes, older homes built in the 50’s in need of renovation, mobile home parks, RV parks, long term residences (mostly converted old motels or upscale new ones), single family homes and considered domes as an alternative.

If I were going to build a lot of these domes together I don’t think I would build them in rows with the same color, size, and orientation. This would be like the concept of building homes in cookie cutter neighborhoods, houses built with similar layouts, color, size, on smaller plots of land. This may be more economical but it is not very desirable. Cramming more people into a smaller area doesn’t often make a better community.

Image if you will a free standing 314 square foot stick built home. It would look more like a shed/shack than a home. Not a very desirable looking place to live in. Domes are different. They can look more futuristic or even old and rustic. Domes can be designed to resemble bugs or built to resemble The Shire on Lord of the Rings. It is their quirkiness that makes them different. I think I would consider this quirkiness a great asset rather than a detriment.

Imagine again a dome community themed to resemble an Indian reservation or to look like pebbles in a water oasis. A community built to attract similar types of people or people in similar situation in their life.

Examples:

The single parent family: A dome community built for a single parent with kids. A mini community built enclosed within a brightly colored concrete wall. No cars allowed on the inside of the wall for safety. Landscaping could consist of large blocks, and large numbers built on the ground and mushroom stools, your imagination is not bound here. A playground and open area. For the parents, peace of mind of the secure, safe environment, child sitting should be easier to come by. Kids would be more entertained by other kids near by and raising them would become more of a community effort. There should be less stress for the parent. The theme would stay intact because when a family grew or kids become older the domes would become too small. Thus, allowing new single parent families to move in with younger kids.

Senior citizens: A dome community built with the slower mobility of seniors in mind. Cars would be parked in covered areas as close as possible, similar to what I have seen online. Landscaping would consist of gardens and a covered area to meet for companionship. Domes and common areas connected by flat, wide, lighted walkways. This is similar to assisted living but each unit is its own individual residence.

College students: A dome community with its location of importance. This would be like off campus individual dorms. Landscaping would take the youthfulness of occupants in mind, volley ball, basketball and an open area for games. A covered common area for outdoor cooking and socializing could be included. Dorms could have internet or the entire area could have wi/fi. Residents would have to be enrolled in school or some kind of training classes.

Single parent with kids, senior citizens, and youth usually don’t make the best tenants but domes are easily repaired if needed and the sense of community keeps a lot of things in check that aren’t normally considered in building.

Other themes could be Eco village, artist colony, disabled, veterans, homeless housing, (sponsored by the community, churches and government), and long term vacation homes in some areas, etc

This is all made possible by the quirkiness of the small dome, safe, energy efficient and long term durability.

The purpose may have been to provide low rent housing but the result would be mini communities fulfilling a need.

Build these unique mini communities where zoning allows and I believe their success and popularity should convince politicians to rethink their zoning and building codes. It is beyond my capability to persuade government entities to change but through the power of the masses they will.

A win for the owner, a win for the resident, a win for the community, a win for the government.

Again my two or three cents worth…

JohnB