The Alternative Solution to Social Ills?

by

Arrai'El

The growing homelessness, unemployment and hunger issues are directly addressed by the Sundance Project which I first created over 12 years ago and is a for-profit entity. I have submitted this same project to three different Administrations. The first was the Clinton Administration, then the Bush Administration and more recently the Obama Administration. Out of all those only the Clinton Administration even responded (although it was forwarded to someone who had either no power or no humane interest in the project). It has been adjusted, expanded over the years, reflecting the latest in alternative and viable resources which I felt could be utilized and deployed much more quickly and efficiently then present conventional methods and projects. Also, with the increasing unemployment I foresee a time, on a national scale, where jobs can be created that builds, transports and erects the housing, thus creating money and goods.

The Goal

The Sundance Project was created to directly and quickly help those in need in three major areas; homelessness, unemployment and hunger . A 'housing credit' program for those who are disabled but able to help in some manner would be created as well. The social problems may spiral into the need for clothing, transportation, etc.

The Katrina victims are still displaced and many are still waiting for help.

The shameful situation of the homeless won't simply go away if we ignore it (just look around. Its only getting worse!) And a new category of homeless is growing - individuals and families living in their vehicles (if their lucky!) There is a saying that most people are only one paycheck away from being on the street has become a cold reality for hundreds of thousands all across this country. An addendum to that is now people are only one disaster away from losing everything.

Now with Haiti hit by a massive quake leaving thousands upon thousands homeless I believe its time to speak out and offer alternative solutions to whomever is listening. Many of these 'alternative' solutions have been around for years! When it comes to 'corporate downsizing, bank failures, foreclosures, natural disasters- the loss of income and home is no respecter of race or religion!

My alternative solutions don't rely on government hand outs but they do demand that the very people who need the help step up and embrace the project fully. The Sundance Project can help people become self-reliant, accountable and an asset in any city or town, creating a positive and strong foundation for family and community.

Those who are homeless, unemployed and in need of good, healthy fresh food (alarming numbers are applying for Food Stamps these days) are the very people who now have the opportunity to help themselves. On a nationwide scale, via private or charitable funding thru various donations, grants (or Angels) individuals can make the Sundance Project a reality and help the chronically homeless, newly homeless thru foreclosure, etc. get off the streets! By building housing for others the loss of income, disability, etc and unemployed/underemployed can create jobs that are part of the Sundance Project. Jobs created to help the homeless and the hungry at one fell swoop. Sundance Day Care Centers-nationwide- will be offered for those workers who need childcare and those who work can be paid a salary and/or a credit for each hour they work towards their own housing. The alterantive housing can be also be deployed to rush to help in times of natural disaster, Acts of God and catastrophe from anywhere in the world as well as the U.S. warehousing, factories, vehicles, offices, staff, website, land and office equipment will be leased or bought and are the property of The Sundance Project, a for profit organization.

Where there is land that is viable, fertile and near irrigation, the Sundance Project will grow food in each of the following categories;

Conventional farming/agriculture, Hydroponics and Green Houses thereby increasing and sustaining a continuous yield of healthy and readily available fresh food to be shipped to wherever its needed on a daily basis, to directly address the problem of hunger, mostly in the U.S. The only meat will be from fowls and fish. Agricultural land will be purchased nationwide and employees will do the planting, growing and harvesting and later packing and shipping out of this food. Administrative and Project Support staff will be hired initially. Vehicles and drivers will take the food to the people and agencies who have signed on for food assistance from the Sundance Project and will get regular deliveries as longs as needed in their communities .

The Plan

Part A: Alternative Housing

Concrete Canvas Homes

One of the most important and critical aspects of the Sundance Project is helping and eventually alleviating the homeless in this country. No one should ever be homeless for more then a few days at the most! Once the protocols are in place no more then a day depending on distance, logistics and infrastructure that may or may not be present.

I propose various alternative methods that are strongly indicative as they directly address the homeless problem and can be deployed in a most efficient manner.

The first is using an invention called Concrete Canvas (http://www.concretecanvas.org.uk/) out of England. Invented by two young men who have garnered awards and recognition for such an affective solution for quick, cheap and quality housing.

A single home can be 'built' (by very few people) in less then a day, for a family of four or more, hygienic and guaranteed for a minimum of ten years. Far less time then conventional housing and far beyond tent encampments in durability, affordability and deployment. The building arrives as a kit about the size of a small car, using water and time the house is ready for move in with the help of two - three people to erect . This housing lends itself well for catastrophes and because each is sanitary and hygienic a perfect solution for Medical teams in the field who need a portable and expedited structure to treat the sick and injured, say for the Red Cross or any field or medical evacuation team.

Earth Ships

Another alternative housing source directly addresses three major social problems - builds a home quickly, creates jobs and uses, as its basic material - discarded automobile tires. Most people are unaware that when tires are discarded they have very few uses. Some are prohibitive in recycling in a manner that is cost effective, environmentally healthy or useful in any economically feasible way. They actually become tremendously volatile (piles of hundreds or thousands of tires deep), a dangerous fire hazard that once they catch on fire the particulates and toxins add to our already fragile atmosphere along with the smoke which is a problem for those with respiratory problems. And, to make matters worse, these fires can literally burn for days and days! The fire department can only stand by to prevent spreading as no effective means of putting out a tire fire has been found to my knowledge. The tires are usually dumped in piles that grow bigger, deeper and higher over weeks, months and years. A literal mountain of potential and toxic devastation in that community or city just waiting to be lit! In each town, city or municipality, unless adequate recycling programs have been initiated, a mountain (or mountains) of these discarded tires are a given and the odds are there is one near you.

But by utilizing this invention by Michael Reynolds (he calls them "Earthships" http://www.earthship.net/) a home, affordable, environmentally friendly and "off the grid" can be built that is very strong, using recycled materials and in many ways are able to be energy efficient whether in winter or summer cutting down energy costs within months of completion by being partially or completely bermed.

Each home, according to the website, pamphlets and brochures, can make their own water, grow their own food and make their own elecricity. Being off the grid would be totally supported by this type of housing! One of the few celebrities that built one was Dennis Weaver. There are options if one wants to remain 'on the grid' as well but few demand this.

Each house can be built and customized according to the needs of each potential owner. The additional use of colorful bottles and aluminum cans, enhance and add to the aeshetic beauty and design of each home as well as utilizing the recycling of other materals as well. They can also be partially or fully bermed (in part buried in a hill or earth) and built in almost any climate as long as there is a constant and steady source of recyclables for continued building and customization of that home.

Classes are offered for building an Earth Ship of your own. Books, DVDs and more are also offered to support and help you build your dream Earth Ship. I first heard of Michael Reynolds in 1993, out of Taos, New Mexico. It wasn't until September of 2008 that I was able to visit his project and headquarters. I walked away totally in awe after personally examing an Earth Ship that housed the educational and marketing materials on site. Earth Ships would offer such a wonderful solution to several daunting issues facing society and thus fired my imagination and has never been far from my heart. I feel it would offer some variety to those people who need housing under the Sundance Project. I have several more.

Part B: Jobs

Employment

The people who are looking for work (and physically able) would be hired and paid a consistent and steady salary as well as credits going toward their own home. The staff for its operation, administration, construction and delivery would be hired for each central location as well as a Human Resources, Payroll and Housing Credit division.

Those who are ill or disabled can still contribute in some way to the project in order to gain their own home. A separate Consultation would be indicated to establish how much or how little that person can contribute and how they can earn credits towards their own home helping them to help themselves if at all possible. All skills, experience and availability will be taken into consideration and applied towards each person on a case-by-case basis.

A lack of good, affordable and accessible day care is a serious problem even in the best of times. This would be directly addressed by the Sundance Project Day Care Centers which would be established to help protect and care for the children of employees of the project in every area where the Sundance Project is headquarted or building. The employees would be trained and given certification in day care and would be paid a salary and/or credits. Depending on age, etc.

Employment of those who are adept at growing fruits, vegetables, etc. would also be created, and in some cases allowed to live on or near the gardens for various reasons. A transportation and trucking department for delivery, packing or deployment of product would be set up.

Offices would be near by and would be able to make sure all produce was organic or nearly so, with no harmful pesticides or chemicals used whatsoever in the growth of fresh fruit and vegetables for the Sundance Project. In some properties hydro-electric power would be created as well as wind turbines to create power. Any access would be sold by the Sundance Project to the electric company.

Part C: Missions and Goals

The Sundance Project Mission Statement

1. Getting the homeless into shelters as soon as humanely possible and a permanent home not long after that.

2. Helping create jobs that work within the same framework – helping to build the homes or feed the hungry of the people who help others. Women will baby-sit those kids of those employees who are building the homes. Home Credits to be applied as well for those who are physically limited but need housing and food too.

3. Growing food, healthy and/or organic on land connected with the Project in many applications, gardens, hydroponic and green houses. A distribution system, with transportation to the Hungry as well as those within the Project.

4. A means to gather and centralize the dispensation of clothing, shoes, etc for those who need it because of fire, disaster or Acts of God. Nationwide.

The Sundance Project's basic foundation will be to help victims take charge of their lives, whether in cities or towns with the goal to further help others in need so that they, in turn, can help even more.

Hopefully, my alternative housing resources can help alleviate and eventually end these daunting social ills that affects everyone of us in one form or another in every town, city or metropolitan area.

My question now is- who in the Obama Administration is listening? Or is anyone?

Copyright 1993-2010 All Rights Reserved

Tags: Homeless Jobless Hungry Sundance Project Concrete Canvas Earthshipsar

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