OUR HOUSING SOLUTION TO KATRINA

September 15, 2005

Housing Solutions in the Gulf Coast or Anywhere

The news reports that FEMA is purchasing thousands of trailers and also has a plan to rent property (48 acre minimum) for temporary housing.  The purchase of trailers will be an expensive way to go but is an immediate solution for displaced people. 

Regarding the rental of land at $1.5 Million for 18 months; Land in this area probably sells for $5,000.00 per acre to purchase.  In calculating the price that FEMA is would pay for this proposed land rent, the price per acre would be $31,250.00 per acre (48 acres rented for $1.5 Million = $31,250.00 per acre).  Then the land owner reclaims the land after this rental period.
 

                              Our Alternative Solution

                                      Our company produces high quality, low cost, easy and fast to build all steel framed efficiency housing units that 
                                      can be assembled on site in several hours by marginally skilled labor.

                                      These units are pre-fabricated (85% complete) in one of our associate’s factory located in Kentucky or Tennessee
                                      about 200 miles from New Orleans.  The units can be mass produced to the specifications of the area and the
                                      needs of the people.  We have the capability to manufacture 6 units per day per 8 hour work shift and per assembly
                                      line.  Our work force and assembly line can be easily expanded to meet the immediate needs and we can also open
                                      other factories at any location within weeks.  At 6 units per day produced per work shift and per assembly line
                                      assume we open 5 lines and work 3 shifts, we can produce approximately 90 units per day – 450 units per 5 day
                                      work week or 1,935 units per month per facility.

                                      The standard unit that we produce as guest housing or cabins is 500 SQFT (can be larger or additional bedrooms added) and includes one bedroom (10’ X 10’), one combination living/dining room – can also be used as a bedroom (10’ X 15.5’), a kitchen (10’ X 9.5’) and a bathroom (9.5’ X 6.5’).  The units can be placed on a slab foundation or can be manufactured with a floor system to be attached to a block foundation or concrete pylons.

The units can be stand alone or attached together (common wall) such as efficiency apartment types of buildings.

To construct the units -based on units with floor systems anchored to concrete pylons:

Provide 1’ diameter holes approximately 2’ – 3’ deep for pylons (based on local codes) approximately 12 pylons are as codes require – using “sona-tubes” (cardboard forms), pour concrete to form pylons and insert anchor bolts.                   
Place 85% completed floor system on pylons and anchor.
Place 85% completed walls on floor system – attach to floor.
Place roof system on walls and screw together.
Jump electric wires from wall to wall to complete circuits.
Place drywall in the corners and along the floor.
Install toilet, sink and shower stall and hot water heater to the provided plumbing in the bathroom and attach provided cabinetry to the walls.
Attach the provided cabinetry to the kitchen walls and attach the sink to the provided plumbing.
Attach the utilities to the source.
Move in.

With a crew of 5 workers, after the foundation (pylons) is installed the units can be built in as little as 35 man-hours.

  Typical floor plan # 1 (can be modified)

 Typical floor plan # 2 (can be modified)

 Typical styles (can be modified)

These units can be built as temporary or permanent based on how the units are attached to the foundation.  If temporary the units can be quickly disassembled and easily moved to storage for the next disaster. 

These units can be placed on the property where houses were destroyed so the people can live at home while houses are being rebuilt – can later be disassembled and moved or can remain on the owner’s property as a guest house or in-law housing.

The units can be built on vacant land as a village (community) and based on zoning can be 12 to 24 units (more or less) per acre.

Note:  The units are built with wall systems and can be stored in less space than trailers.

Available waste treatment systems (septic system)

Our waste management system replaces septic tanks and drain fields in areas where municipal sewage is not available.  Our smallest system threats the septic waste of 25 homes and larger units treat 100 plus homes.  These are above ground systems that are easily installed and attached to the homes.  The remnant waste is 90% to 95% pure water that can be used to water lawns – will not contaminate the environment.

Waste treatment System

Proposal:

Instead of renting land for $31,250.00 per acre – purchase it for $5,000.00 per acre (or fair market value) – total price for 48 acres at $5,000.00 per acre is $240,000.00; a savings of $1.26 Million.

Instead of purchasing trailers at an expensive price we can build temporary housing (then used as permanent) on this land with prices starting at $20,000.00 per unit to resolve the immediate (temporary) need of displaced people.  As the displaced people’s houses are rebuild and the temporary housing is vacated these units could be moved and stored or can remain as permanent housing which is sold or rented to less fortunate people in the area at a low price – as low as $127.00 per month rent or mortgage.

By renting the units to low income people (new houses instead of old shacks) the people will have an affordable place to live. 

With our housing system, anyone regardless of skill level can learn to build, which will provide job training and income for the poor.

Once trained in building these houses, people can continue employment to build our houses, earn incomes to pay rents or purchase the houses that are built and become productive citizens.

Assume these temporary houses (rented or sold to poor people later) for $20,000.00 each at a 30 year at 6.5% P. I. interest rate – the monthly payments are $126.41.  The accrued interest to the mortgage on each house during the term of the loan (30 years) is $25,506.99.  At 1,000 houses the accrued interest to the mortgage company is $25.5 Million – at 1 Million houses the accrued interest to the mortgage company is $25.5 Billion.

We also build permanent houses that can replace the destroyed homes in the area.

Benefits of our Housing Proposal

The displaced people are relocated back to the area and given a place to live.
We provide job training, jobs and income that can continue for years to come.
The government saves tax dollars.
Less fortunate people will have affordable places to live and an income to pay rent and the essentials of life.
Insurance companies will save as the money used for temporary rent for the victims could be used to pay for the temporary housing.
The government officials will have a reasonable and affordable solution to this current (and future) problem.
The mortgage company will earn profits.
The built units can be sold to the municipality or to real estate investors for rental units.

 For more information contact us at 202 371 9696 or by e-mail at vicpinzon@yahoo.com