Living in Cardboard Boxes: How One Man is Making it Desirable

The phrase “living in cardboard boxes” is typically associated with people who are homeless.  And it is true that some people who are living on the streets will find large cardboard boxes to sleep in or to provide shelter from cold winds and rain.  Living in cardboard boxes would never be an option that someone would choose for themselves or for their family.  Or would it?

An architect in Melbourne, Australia has actually designed a house out of cardboard boxes that is quite sturdy and livable.  He and a friend have built one such house for the friend to move his family into, including a young baby.  Apparently this home of cardboard boxes is built strongly enough that the family has been living there for some time now with no problems at all. 

There is more to these houses than just cardboard boxes, like framework made of plywood, and door and window frames, but the walls are layers of corrugated cardboard thick enough to keep the wind out, but thin and lightweight enough that the houses can be shipped in flat pieces, probably in cardboard boxes.

These houses are so inexpensive to be built and also inexpensive to ship that there is talk of sending the houses to disaster areas for relief housing.  The houses could be shipped in large quantities to people who need emergency shelter and are so easy to put together that families could build their own temporary housing until they can get back on their feet again.  I think that in an emergency, I would be happy to live in cardboard boxes.

The talk about the cardboard houses is that with the economy in such a bad state, there may actually be a market for these corrugated abodes in Melbourne.  Someone could buy and build a home made out of cardboard for a fraction of the cost of renting, and this is appealing to many people.  Maybe the idea will catch on in other regions struck with economic hardship as well.

The architect hopes that his cardboard houses can be used to help people in need and is trying to raise money to start sending his houses to areas around the world that have been hit with natural disasters leaving people homeless.  His efforts are doubtless very rewarding, not only to him, but to the many people he has helped and will be able to help in the future with his cardboard homes.

When you see people living on the streets in cardboard boxes are you saddened and try to help?  Are you angered by people who walk around them and look away as if homelessness were a contagious disease spread by eye contact?  One can’t help but think that there may come a day when you can no longer afford to pay for a home with heat and running water, and if that day comes you would hope that people won’t treat you the way you see them treating those who are already living in cardboard boxes.  Think about that the next time you see someone on the street that could use some help.