Everyone agrees that homelessness in the US is a colossal headache. In the face of this ongoing problem, solutions like a shipping container home community can be a long-term answer.
Stemming from traditional causes of the lack of affordable housing projects, other causes including land gentrification, complicated building codes, evictions, and paycheck stagnation have led to homelessness levels increasing in recent years.
With how officials have begun considering the concept of a shipping container home community as affordable housing, how does the concept fare in real life?
Brief Outlook on Homelessness in the US
In 2023 alone, the United States experienced a significant surge in homelessness by 12%, with the total number of homeless individuals rising to more than 650,000.
Among the most affected demographics, certain groups are more vulnerable to homelessness than others, such as children, racial minorities, and veterans.
Additionally, chronic homelessness has been on the rise, pointing to a long-term struggle for many individuals who cycle through temporary shelters without securing permanent housing.
Experts point to various systemic issues fueling the crisis, such as widening economic inequality, the severe lack of affordable housing, inadequate healthcare services, and strains caused by rising immigration.
Furthermore, economic factors have made it difficult for low-income individuals to keep up with rising rent prices, while the shortage of available affordable housing further exacerbates the problem.
As the demand for housing increases, those on the margins of society face higher risks of becoming homeless in the future.
To counter homelessness, popular solutions for this problem often require targeted efforts and long-term strategies, including more investment in affordable housing, healthcare access, and social support services.
Experts also advocate for systemic changes to solve the root causes of homelessness, focusing on creating sustainable opportunities for vulnerable populations, with a shipping container home community being one of them.
Real-life Examples of Shipping Container Home Communities
Sometimes known as “micro-communities”, shipping container home communities are stealing the spotlight as the alternative to shelter projects for the homeless.
Many officials believe that, unlike shelters, micro-communities offer more life stability that can fix the life quality of many homeless people, as seen below.
“The Melody”, Atlanta, Georgia
Hailing from a converted former parking lot, “The Melody” in downtown Atlanta is a new example of how much container homes can significantly transform many people’s lives.
As a collaboration project between many institutions like the Atlanta City government and non-profit institutions Partners for Home, The Melody is the first step of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ objectives of providing 500 rapid housing units by December 2025.
Consisting of 40 container homes complete with features like HVAC units, beds, bathrooms, TVs, and sinks, The Melody has become a home for many people previously wrestling with the hardships of homelessness.
Since each tenant has their personal door keys and improved privacy, they can say goodbyes from the lack of privacy during their shelter days and subsequently enjoy a better life in the Melody.
Denver, Colorado
Similar to Atlanta’s The Melody, a comparable container home community project is also taking place in Denver to give the homeless access to stable jobs and permanent housing.
According to Denver City’s data, more than 1,500 people have moved into the project’s three micro-communities and five converted hotels and over 80% of tenants still lived there last May.
Much like The Melody, Denver’s micro-communities house former homeless who once suffered from substance abuse and lack of positive community-based social interaction.
Once they moved there, many tenants said they were very satisfied with their current livelihood and how much these communities uplifted their lives.
Despite some pushback from Denver locals concerned with waste and safety problems, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, one of the project’s supporters, said he attended numerous town halls to clear misunderstandings about the project’s impact on society.
Evansville, Indiana
In September 2024, the Community Action Program of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Inc. (CAPE) and Evansville’s Department of Metropolitan Development completed two new container homes on Cody Street for potential buyers.
According to CAPE’s CEO Gary Roan, CAPE aims to provide affordable housing units that combine all typical home amenities with the long-term benefits of container homes.
Being non-conventional home establishments, Roan said these container homes’ prices will keep their prices as affordable as possible for everyone.
On the same occasion, Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry said container homes are the housing model the city is taking cues from in meeting the town’s affordable housing needs.
Newark, New Jersey
Once contending with the hardships of homelessness, many Newark locals now live in the city’s “Hope Village” I and II, the city’s transitional housing communities for the homeless.
Whereas Hope Village I started housing the homeless in 2021, Hope Village II began operating in January 2024 as part of the city’s “The Path Home” initiative to eradicate the city’s homelessness issue.
Located in Newark’s South Ward, Hope Village II contains four clusters of container homes that can house 20 residents and provide them with amenities like WiFi, bathrooms, and kitchens.
Furthermore, the residents are also eligible for social services to help them find treatment for drug abuse and access to job placement.
According to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, he constructed Hope Village II to solve the city’s homelessness issue within three years.
Despite earlier skepticism from some formerly homeless residents, they were overjoyed with the project’s ability to house them properly and give them life-fixing opportunities.
Citing the projects’ amenities and social services benefits, Baraka said Hope Village II helps formerly homeless people feel “like they are human beings again”.
Also Read: Container Homes vs. Tiny Homes in Congested Cities: Which One?
Conclusion
While not receiving the warmest welcome in their earlier stages, these shipping container home communities show how they can help the homeless have the decent homes they deserve. If you’re part of such initiatives, consider buying convertible containers from Tradecorp to maximize these homes’ durability! With its industry-leading expertise, Tradecorp satisfies all the client’s business and project needs from cargo freight to DIY home projects.