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Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

occupod.org

51–60 of 64 posts

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#51

This looks like a worse version of a teardrop trailer. There are many DIY guides and templates available on how to build a them, like this one: https://www.instructables.com/id/Teardrop-Trailer/

I think if a homeless person had a car to attach a teardrop trailer to, they would sleep in the car.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#52
post #36

Curious about the pathology of homelessness and chronic sleep deprivation.

The woman who founded Right To Dream Too (http://right2dreamtoo.blogspot.com/) gave a presentation at my work. I mentioned that I thought it looked like many homeless were dealing with drug addictions and if they had services to support them. My perception is that people look much more stressed out than the homeless people I used to see in Portland twenty years ago. She remarked that people who are dealing with chronic sleeplessness often look like what you would see someone who is withdrawing from drug use, and that made me think.

It makes you wonder if more/less policing has an impact on the ability of people to find safe places to sleep, and if not, how that leads to an interminable cycle of destruction to their bodies which is maybe worse than drug use. I wish I knew the facts on that speculation.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#53
post #21

Nice bit of cheap woodwork from scrap materials, but the main problem this will run into is that most jurisdictions will apply (or bend) laws about parking and temporary structures to take away and destroy your wooden trailer shelter. Or, in the case of Hungary, make homelessness illegal entirely. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/europe/hungary-criminaliz... / http://abouthungary.hu/fundamental-law/qa-on-the-upcomi…

They will do that because if you don't you end up having to powerwash the streets with bleach.

The worst part is that it isn't even about money. SF spends a huge amount of money on the homeless, but it doesn't solve the issue because many of those sleeping in public are unable or unwilling to accept that they live in a society and that it rules do apply to them, as well.

I don't much like Orban, but if a community does nothing, what you will eventually get is something like that.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#54
post #6

"No Place For The Living" seems... rather the opposite of the intended message. On a more technical level, many pallets are chemically treated to prevent insect damage. The chemicals used for this treatment can be quite hazardous; sleeping on top of a damp, chemically treated pallet is practically a worst case.

> sleeping on top of a damp, chemically treated pallet is practically a worst case. Worse than sleeping out in the rain?

Yes. Rain doesn't contain methyl bromide, which can cause cancer and permanent damage to the lungs, kidneys, and nervous system.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#55
post #37

Good idea. Poor execution. 5/10.

What would you do differently?

Make it longer. Consider an internal secure storage. Could you really leave valuables in it during the day if you were away. Reconsider the flap at the back. Consider when there are say over 20, over 100. This is when officials get ansy. Could the design accommodate a small group being encouraged to cluster (and optionally encourage supporter networks). Eg to protect the weak entrance area.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#56
post #21

Nice bit of cheap woodwork from scrap materials, but the main problem this will run into is that most jurisdictions will apply (or bend) laws about parking and temporary structures to take away and destroy your wooden trailer shelter. Or, in the case of Hungary, make homelessness illegal entirely. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/europe/hungary-criminaliz... / http://abouthungary.hu/fundamental-law/qa-on-the-upcomi…

You're right that homelessness is a complex problem. However, taking steps to protect lives (or even just improve comfort) isn't papering over the problem. I think taking tiny steps toward a solution, even limited in scope, is still a very helpful thing to do.

Homelessness is an incredibly simple problem with an incredibly simple solution: build more housing. Since this is not a step in that direction, it does not seem like a "step forward" to me. If anything, all these "occupods" do is widen the social divide between homeless and housed people..... While poisoning the homeless with chemicals from the wood pallets. LMAO at this misguided attempt to do good that actually does harm.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're right that homelessness is a complex problem. However, taking steps to protect lives (or even just improve comfort) isn't papering over the problem. I think taking tiny steps toward a solution, even limited in scope, is still a very helpful thing to do.

Homelessness is an incredibly simple problem with an incredibly simple solution: build more housing. Since this is not a step in that direction, it does not seem like a "step forward" to me. If anything, all these "occupods" do is widen the social divide between homeless and housed people..... While poisoning the homeless with chemicals from the wood pallets. LMAO at this misguided attempt to do good that actually do…

Build more of that good ol' free housing that capitalism loves to provide?

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Homelessness is an incredibly simple problem with an incredibly simple solution: build more housing. Since this is not a step in that direction, it does not seem like a "step forward" to me. If anything, all these "occupods" do is widen the social divide between homeless and housed people..... While poisoning the homeless with chemicals from the wood pallets. LMAO at this misguided attempt to do good that actually do…

Build more of that good ol' free housing that capitalism loves to provide?

No just build more housing in general

The studies have been done bro, there is only one solution and I just described it

Also we don't actually live in a capitalist system, health care and housing are already socialist in many many ways. It would be easy to pass govt regulations making it easier to build housing. Capitalism is not the problem because we don't actually live in a fully capitalist society dude.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> sleeping on top of a damp, chemically treated pallet is practically a worst case. Worse than sleeping out in the rain?

Is it wise to compound homelessness with chronic health issues and permanent disability? Methyl Bromide is frequently used for pest mitigation of pallets and their contents, and pallet cargo can also leak onto pallets (and you won't be none the wiser).

Even in an absorbent material like wood Methyl Bromide will dissipate within a week. It's very rare for a pallet to be discarded within a week of being shipped and but if you are super cautious you can just wait a week.

Toluene, Benzene and Ethylene dichloride on the other hand are used in all sorts of materials like glues, and will be out gassed for months. Kids toys, phones, shoes, furniture, paint - normal houses (as opposed to Occupod's) are full of them. Provided you are little careful with the painting, I'd take the Occupod any day.

Re: Show HN: Occupod – a solid mobile sleeping shelter

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Build more of that good ol' free housing that capitalism loves to provide?

No just build more housing in general The studies have been done bro, there is only one solution and I just described it Also we don't actually live in a capitalist system, health care and housing are already socialist in many many ways. It would be easy to pass govt regulations making it easier to build housing. Capitalism is not the problem because we don't actually live in a fully capitalist society dude.

I'm not sure which studies have you so convinced that one overly simplistic thing can "solve" homelessness. This paper from 1991 does a great job of laying out the dozens of different factors which make homelessness such a complex and challenging issue to address: https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=...

A lack of affordable housing compounds the challenge, but to say housing is the only solution when it isn't even a good partial solution misses the entire problem.

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