Gregory Kloehn, an artist from Oakland, California, is using found materials — not for his art, but to make small shelters for the homeless in his area.
Kloehn’s Homeless Homes Project uses “discarded materials to make sturdy, innovative, mobile shelters” for homeless people, says the project’s website. “By sourcing our materials from illegal street dumping, commercial waste, and excess household items, we strive to diminish money’s influence over the building process.”
“Stuff people just throw away on the street can give someone a viable home,” Kloehn told CNBC.
Made of materials including wooden pallets and old appliance parts, the homes are portable, unique, and practical.
“I make them cute and funny,” said Kloehn, but “I want them to work well, be strong, and watertight.”
While using illegally-dumped materials to help the homeless works to help alleviate two of Oakland’s problems, Kloehn admits it is just a temporary measure.
“Does it have merit as a solution to homelessness,” he asked. “As far as giving people a shelter, yeah, definitely. Is it a solution to homelessness? It’s an answer. An attempt.”
