Pod Provides Practice
A pile of lumber dropped off on a gravel lot in SE Portland is the beginning of what could be life changing housing, and a step forward for Home Building Foundation’s education outreach. For the first time, HBF coordinated a project with a student group to build a small “sleeping pod’ for people experiencing homelessness.
The lumber went to Cultivate Initiatives, an innovative SE Portland nonprofit that provides a menu of services to people living without shelter in east Multnomah County. From mobile showers, to food programs, they provide help to people living outdoors. Cultivate Initiatives runs a Portland Safe Rest Village of tiny homes at Menlo Park. At their hub at 146th and SE Stark, they operate an innovative “Intern” program. Cultivate Initiatives pays people transitioning out of homelessness to remove graffiti, pick up trash, and to perform light construction work throughout the community. The Interns are supervised by people who were once homeless themselves. The Intern team has provided HBF stellar help at our last two Trap Shoot events. Cultivate Initiatives dreams of establishing a Workforce Village of more than 20 pods at their headquarters, providing housing for people who are working their way back to self-sufficiency.
Cultivate Initiatives Proposed Workforce Village
Home Building Foundation offered to help build a prototype for Village, and approached local adult construction pre-apprenticeship programs to see if they wanted to get on board. POIC’s instructor Torre Sathrum jumped at the chance for his summer cohort to build the first pod. Instructor Sathrum says this is the best experience he could give his students, as it mimics the real -life experience of building a home. The 14 trainees began by measuring the area for the foundation, and put up blocks so build a pod that could later be moved. The team moved quickly, and by the end of the first week, they had the frame up and ready.
Special Attention for the Students
HBF contacted local media to see if they’d like to cover this historic build. Three tv stations sent their cameras and crews, and the delighted students were interviewed. Mia Desimone was in week six of the program. She told reporters the pod was a great way to learn about the trades while also doing some good. “I wanted to get some insight on how to do construction – plumbing - so I can do my own thing once this is over,” Desimone said. “It’s been very good and helpful - it’s been a very fun experience.”
POIC provides its pre-apprenticeship program for free to low income young adults typically aged 18-24. The HBF sponsored Pod project allowed the students to learn construction math, and to use power tools. The trainees learned the fundamentals of framing, flooring, siding, and roofing. HBF Project Manager Chris McDowell says the pod project is a great learning experience. “They’re learning all the fundamentals of construction learning to put up walls - they’re learning exactly what they need to do to build a house,” McDowell said. “This is a prototype - this is a beginning but I think it’s a beginning of something that’s going to be tangible and helpful for our community.”
The group kept busy every day, often trailed by Pearl, Cultivate Initiatives curious border collie mix. When they weren’t working on the pod, some built picnic tables that will be distributed throughout Portland to other nonprofits. As they put on finishing touches, some of the trainees reflected on what they learned. AJ told us measuring was difficult. “Having to keep my math skills up, that was the most challenging part.” But he says the experience was invaluable to teach him what life on the job might be like. “It definitely taught me what a lot of construction workers have to go through. Before I did this I pretty much thought it was easy, to get down here and actually have to do it, it’s a different perspective. Its hard work but its rewarding.”
For Kevin Harris, he told us it opened up his horizons. “It’s going to get rough, but the thing is you can’t give up on it. You have to keep going because eventually you are going to find a way to make it work…it’s like a puzzle. After a while, you start learning everything, it gets easier.” Harris says he building the pod taught him he loves this work, and wants to make it his career.
Building into the Fall!
Delays in ordering materials mean this group could not quite finish the pod, so they buttoned it up tight against rain so the next POIC class can finish it this fall. As soon as the first pod is complete, Portland Youth Builders is in line to build a second, and Construction Hope will build a third. As grant funding is secured for site improvements, HBF will build a lesson plan for the pod, and hopefully bring these valuable, hands-on experiences to more construction students in the Portland Metro area.