LifeShelter
Cheap as a tent, as good as a house.
Location: Iraq
Host: Oxfam Iraq
Invested: $3.500 for a demonstration site
Needed: $130,000 for a pilot project of 29 Shelters to support 200 men, women and children in Iraq
Currently, 1.6m people are displaced in Iraq, and 2.35m need a shelter that can withstand the hot summer and cold winters in the region. Currently, accommodations are tents, which do not insulate well, among other disadvantages. engaging content here.
2020 WINNER
Honey Bee Network Creativity & Inclusive Innovation Awards
UNDP Accelerator Labs, Honey Bee Network, and GIAN have jointly organized the first International annual competition for creative & innovative ideas or traditional knowledge practices around the world, which solve day-to-day problems. Life Shelter received this International Award among 2,500 solutions around the world.
The Challenge
Global: Millions of people have been forced away from their homes and are living in temporary camps, mainly in tents. The average refugee settlement has a lifespan of 15 years. Every year, more than 500 million USD are spent on temporary tent-like housing for refugees and IDPs. Continued growth in numbers of displaced peoples leads to pressure on funding as well as natural resources.
Iraq: 1.6m people are still displaced (in and outside camps) and 2.35m people in need of shelter. Camps are closing, and people are forced to return to their governorates to stay in transitional camps and poorly built shelters or tents. The Shelter Cluster in Iraq is calling for more sustainable solutions, an alternative to the traditional tent solutions which need yearly costly repair and replacement. A cost that could be saved to address other needs if a more sustainable solution is found
The Solution
LifeShelters answers to all the challenges, and then some: it’s durable, cost-effective, affordable, and modular shelter solution made entirely with Rockwool, compliant with UN standards, with a life expectancy of 15 years+, to provide dignity to the displaced population.
Simple and easy to erect and disassemble. Semi-permanent.
Safe and resistant: Fire, earthquake, and storm-resistant. Lockable doors.
Cost-effective: Cheap as a tent, good as a house. A 15+ life expectancy vs. a maximum of 2 years for a tent. No need for yearly repair or winterization Kit.
Well insulated: Sound reducing, provide privacy in a crowded environment. Cold and heat insulating.
Sustainable and eco-friendly: No trees, 98% plastic-free. All materials are 98% reusable.
Possibility to create social enterprises to assemble and set-it up locally. Sourcing of materials: 80% Local, 20% International
Adaptable and modular design: Three sizes to accommodate households, schools, and community centers, providing safety, privacy, and dignity.
Take a video tour of the Life Shelter!
The Impact
The Next Stage: Proof of Concept in Iraq Implement a proof of concept pilot project of 29 shelters by selecting vulnerable displaced families in Iraq. The intended outcomes are:
Local Temporary Employment: Installation of 29 Lifeshelters through cash- for-work
Improved Quality of Life: 29 vulnerable households, equivalent to about 200 men women and children (with a focus on women-headed households) in need of temporary housing provided with a Lifeshelter
Marketing Knowledge: Monitoring and evaluation including pre- and post- installation surveys and study to measure social, economic, and wellbeing impact of the Lifeshelter, as well as monitoring the technical benefits compared to other temporary housing solutions.
Stage for Scale: Proof of concept will seek to measure the cost, social, and health benefits of using the Lifeshelter and support unlocking additional capital for the scale-up phase.