HEALTH AND SANITATION 35 city could now have people off the streets living in our transitional shelters in a matter of weeks . In many cases , it takes several months or even years to build , install and permit transitional or permanent homeless housing .”
ModZe units range in price from USD25 000 to USD65 000 before the optional solar power and battery storage systems are installed .
Citing estimates of more than 500 000 homeless people in the United States and another million who get displaced annually by natural disasters , Foldum founder and CEO Ryan Rossi said the goal is to have manufacturing warehouses throughout the United States to reduce the time and costs involved in delivering the units .
“ We know that there ' s a big gap between an RV — which is usually well over USD50 000 — and a tent ,” Rossi said . “ And those are the two things that are the quickest that can show up after a natural disaster . But there is a big gap there – we want to provide shelters that are more civilised than a tent — but cheaper than an RV . And so for now that ' s our focus , that ' s our goal .”
Roberts said they are working with ABS to design and build an American-made flat-packed modular ADU with a bathroom / kitchen that can easily be set up and moved , unlike current units on the market that are not designed to be set up and moved more than once .
Former Major League Baseball player Jerry Hairston , who spoke during the event , said he has received numerous investment opportunities since retiring 10 years ago , and this was finally one that he can get behind . “ This is something that not only will help and benefit everybody across the board , but it ’ s going to benefit people who actually need it the most ,” he said .
ModZe interior .
“.. but it ’ s going to benefit people who actually need it the most ”
The following day , members of the joint venture team traveled to Sacramento to attend Cal Expo , where Gov . Gavin Newsom announced the release of USD1-billion under the fourth round of the Homeless Housing , Assistance and Prevention ( HHAP ) program , including USD30-million to build 1 200 tiny homes across four regions of the state . One of the units displayed at the LKIC / LACI open house was among four approved housing solutions for rapidly deployable semi-permanent housing under the state ’ s new programme .
The joint venture was known as Foldum-NZE at the time of the March 15 open house , but the addition of ABS , which Roberts said will allow them to produce units locally and more efficiently , prompted the rebranding to ModZe .
“ Our plan over the next 18 to 24 months is for ModZe to further develop and build a next-generation automated modular home production facility based on its new proprietary modular steel ‘ eFrame ’ structure while incorporating low-carbon sustainable , fireresistant , structurally insulated panels ( SIPS ) for its walls , floors and ceilings ,” Roberts said . “ We are in the process of engineering the automated modular dwelling production line and finding a suitable location to ramp up production to enable us meet the volume of dwellings now in the pipeline .” PA
November 2023 Volume 29 I Number 9 www . plumbingafrica . co . za