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World leader in innovative and proven designs for low-cost transitional shelter.
Fund Shelters and Field Hospitals in Haiti:
(All donations at this time will be allocated to our Haiti initiative)
Haiti Relief Project Update - March 19, 2010
With the generous support of Pacific Domes and hundreds of other donors, World Shelters was able to ship 7,000 square feet of shelter to Haiti last month to meet the expressed needs of Doctors without Borders (Medicins san Frontieres- MSF) and Hopital Adventiste / ACTS World Relief.
All relief agencies working in support of Haiti have experienced daunting logistical challenges, including the very complex issue of land clearance. World Shelters’ shipment for Doctors without Borders is currently in Haiti awaiting site clearance. The shipment for ACTS World Relief is currently in Florida awaiting transport to Haiti. For more information on the difficulties of land clearance and logistics within Haiti, please see this Associated Press article.
Due to these issues, the World Shelters team has not yet departed for Haiti. As soon as our partner agencies have resolved the issues of land clearance for these installations, we will send our team to erect these structures. The rainy season typically begins on April 1 and we want to provide these facilities as soon as possible. We are working closely with our partnering agencies in order to obtain the necessary land clearance and complete these projects for medical installations as expeditiously as possible.
World Shelters has submitted proposals for over 20,000 family shelters in response to multiple agencies’ requests for proposals. Currently little to no land in Haiti is available for siting any of these projects.
As new developments arise, we will be updating the World Shelters website with this new information.
World Shelters Reaches Final Stage of $100,000 Buckminster Fuller Challenge
World Shelters has reached the final stage of competition in the renowned Buckminster Fuller Challenge.
World Shelters’ entry “Sheltering U.S. Persons Unsheltered: Creating Legally Conforming, Economically Sustainable Emergency and Transitional Shelter” is one of 30 entries (out of 215) to advance to the final stage of competition for the $100,000 prize.
The competition honors Buckminster Fuller’s life intention “to make the world work for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation without ecological offense or disadvantage of anyone.” (www.bfi.org)
World Shelters’ Initiatives to Haiti.
(click on the link in each section for more extensive document)
Trauma Center, Surgery Suite and Patient Care for Haiti
Doctors in the field lack appropriate facilities
to treat patients forcing them to perform operations in unsanitary conditions.
The World Shelters Trauma Center provides 3,000 sq. ft. of enclosed space
This “Field Hospital in a Box” includes cots for 40 patients, a water purification system, power, lighting, fans, refrigeration for meds/vaccines, all together this would create an equipped, sanitary environment for medical procedures.
TranShel Transitional Shelters
The TranShel transitional shelter, developed to the standards of the Transitional Shelter Consortium, provides both a core house with adaptability into long-term shelter. Through local adaptations and additive construction supported by in-country field programming TranShel can be altered according to cultural context. A family of five can be sheltered per Sphere standards in this 3×6 meter frameless, hard-panel structure complete with door, two opening screened windows and multiple vents. The 18m2 World Shelters TranShel is rapidly available in large volumes, and beyond the initial shelter can create construction jobs through complementary field programming.
JAS – “Just Add Sticks” Transitional Shelter
This inexpensive, versatile frame connector system, when used in conjunction with local or delivered bamboo, roofing and wall membranes, provides 18m2 of covered space. Simple assembly of familiar “3-4-5” truss-roof frame modular design allows World Shelters JAS to be made in multiple sizes.
Gabions: wire-frame boxes for building walls
Rubble in Haiti is an insurmountable problem. Building materials are scarce. World Shelters Gabions converts the problem of rubble into a resource for constructing walls and retaining walls. Using galvanized 11-gauge welded wire mesh, measuring 2’ x 2’ x 6’, Gabions utilize rubble to create solid walls a family shelter. After initial container load deliveries, World Shelters sees the opportunity to begin production of gabions in Haiti.
Current News:
Click the links below for summary information on the
- World Shelters Field Hospital Trauma Center,
- JAS “Just Add Sticks”shelters,
- Gabions (wire cage frames that convert rubble into walls), and
- TranShel transitional shelters.
- Locally Built Shelters Designs for Haiti
Funds are currently being raised through
World Shelters
Haiti: Relief, Rebuilding and Recovery
The devastation from the January 12 earthquake in Haiti is horrific. Loss of life and survivors’ injuries are at an unprecedented scale for this region. The extent of building collapse and damage will soon become clearer but is extremely widespread. A significant percentage of homes and commercial/municipal buildings will need to be rebuilt – “built back better”. Many thousands of Haitian families are now without shelter. Beyond the immediate imperative to rescue and provide medical care, food and water for survivors, assistance to Haiti must further the longer-term goals of rebuilding and recovery.
Though it has been less than one day since the earthquake as we write this, World Shelters and our collaborating partners are actively developing our projects and evaluating needs based on assessments from the field. Your support of World Shelters’ Haitian relief efforts will provide a maximum value in context-appropriate shelter that will help make the transition towards permanent housing “built back better”.
Please click on the link below to see our more extensive write-up.
Haiti: Relief, Rebuilding and Recovery
We Make and Give Shelter
World Shelters designs, produces, and delivers structures for both emergency response and long-term humanitarian needs. Our shelters are low-cost, durable, flame-retardant, and designed for ease of assembly and transport.
We Help Communities
World Shelters values coordinated, collaborative efforts of individuals and organizations for rebuilding communities. Many of our neighbors on this small planet lack basic shelter due to natural disaster, war or economic conditions. When the struggle for survival is reduced, people can more effectively contribute to their local and our global communities. Giving shelter is an investment in civilization as well as an act of kindness and caring.
We Need Your Support
World Shelters is a non-profit 501(c)(3) California based manufacturer and volunteer organization. Our innovative structures apply proven technologies to create temporary and transitional shelters for humanitarian relief. Our work is supported by private donations, sponsors, grants and purchases of our shelters.
We provide secure online credit card donating through PayPal.