The Homeless, Starving Artists and Others and Low Impact Housing

Links of Inspiration :
Kleiwerks International
A Low impact Woodland Home
Cob Housing
Green Building Materials
Cordwood Masonry
Dignity Village
Building With Cob Work Exchange
2nd Half of Life: Intentional Communities
Eco Villages
Foodtopia
Tailgate Market
Solar Car

Life for the homeless and for those who have more to do than contribute their life's energy to someone else's vision does not have to be materially bleak. There is an avant- garde low-impact housing and intentional community movement that could be an answer for them. It could bring dignity and a deeply satisfying way of life, free from the demands of conventional life and containing the enrichment of individual creativity and shared endeavor. This is part of the green movement or permaculture movement.

Imagine a location where the homeless could choose to go to live and to learn a new way of life. Perhaps it would begin in a tent city of no more than a hundred or so people. Together residents and volunteers would work to build a low-impact community, including a community garden, learning to care for themselves while establishing their settlement. They would use natural building materials such as cob or cordwood. And they would use organic permaculture methods of gardening. Using these methods would minimize costs and be earth-friendly, making their endeavors affordable and less costly to taxpayers. They would be blazing a permaculture trail to the future, a path most are not ready to embark upon and the economy is not ready to embrace and afford for the mainstream.

They would also be engaging their natural creative tendencies and therefore enriching their lives. Their homes would be works of art and expressions of individuality, for example. While living within the community they would learn to garden, preserve and cook food, make cheese and natural soap. They would have free range chickens and cows’ milk, perhaps sheep and goats. There would be room to grow for those capable. They might have a tail-gait market or a booth at a farmers market. They could build a soup kitchen to offer nourishment to those who are in need of food. Perhaps it could evolve into a cooperatively owned restaurant that neighboring communities could partake of. Perhaps with green as a theme they could cooperatively own and work within a green enterprise such as building solar panels or putting together (Art Haines) solar car kits, for themselves as well as for a market of those who want to go green without taking up bike riding.

The program would be facilitated by a non-profit or government organization. The idea would be to provide for themselves and then to have surplus to offer to others. They would be developing marketable green skills as well and becoming able to pass on skills to other developing homeless communities.

While living in the community, they would also receive therapy and counseling as needed. Any employable skills would be identified and assistance provided for returning to or entering the mainstream (for those who would want to do so). Arts and craft skills could also be employed, using scrap or donated material for example to create garden art or other art. This could be for enriching the community itself and for sale or trade by the artisans. Clothing crafts could be developed also, knitting, sewing, etc, where artisans are sovereign entities able to sell or trade their wares and reap the profits for themselves instead of working for others. Assistance would be provided in developing and running such self-employment as much as possible. Musical and other creative skills would be encouraged for leisure activities and perhaps to draw people to the potential restaurant, tail-gate market or other endeavors.

This type of housing project could happen in rural or suburban areas and with a few changes could also be adapted to urban settings. Urban or rooftop gardens or natural urban renewal methods of building could then be employed.

Such housing projects could be a safety net should the number of homeless grow due to a failing economy.

Similar communities, with no supervision or government assistance, could spring up built by other groups who have common unconventional interests and life goals. This might be artists, perpetual students, professionals and some impending retirees, for example who would like to move away from dependence and toward an independent and cooperative permaculture future. Such a way of life could parallel contemporary life-styles until the future opens for others to want or need to join the movement, should that take place. As trail blazers they could enjoy a rich life instead of a life of poverty or preoccupation.