I Think Electric Vans Are The Most Cost Effective Way Of Housing The Homeless

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Gizmo j

Gizmo j

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2013
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Unlike a car, in a van you can put a mattress in the back and have a place to sleep.

Also in a homeless shelter you have risk of disease such as COVID, but in a van you should be safe from most diseases.

The reason I said "electric" van and not a gas powered van is not only to be environmentaly friendly but will allow the homeless to have electricity to power appliances such a laptop, refrigeration, air conditioning, heating and such.

The homeless could also recharge their battery with a solar panel on top of the van, and also charge the van with one of those bicycle things you peddle to charge a battery (I forgot what these are called)

And if you're wondering about hygiene, the homeless could use the toilet or shower at a gym or something, I think that's more cost effective than if say we were to give the homeless RVs instead of vans.

What do you think?
 
Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,004
2,748
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Is this thread a variation of an old Gizmo j thread but with electrically powered vans?

Also, a dropped cigarette and subsequent fire after being booze up might blow the van up or electrocute someone.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,603
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Just give them cardboard boxes. How can you improve on perfection?
 
Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,004
2,748
136

I Was Thinking For The Homeless I Can Make A Van Where The Engine Is A Generator

So the homeless could just put gas in the van and use the Generator to power appliances such as air conditioning/heating, refrigeration, and charge phones/laptops and such. Do you think this is feasible?
forums.anandtech.com forums.anandtech.com

I want to invest in Solar Powerd RVs

I think this is the best way to solve homelessness. I want to buy all-electric RVs and attach solar panels to it and sell them.
forums.anandtech.com forums.anandtech.com
Someone's been ruminating on the thought.
 
Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
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There are numerous tracks of becoming homeless and some issues are on the buyer's side, not the supply side. Someone who can't get their rent in order will not get the mortgage payments in order either.
 
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G

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
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Torn Mind said:
There are numerous tracks of becoming homeless and some issues are on the buyer's side, not the supply side. Someone who can't get their rent in order will not get the mortgage payments in order either.
Click to expand...
It's actually pretty easy to build reasonably priced housing, the problem is that it can't be done in places where everyone wants to live. Popular = expensive.
 
Torn Mind

Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,004
2,748
136
Greenman said:
It's actually pretty easy to build reasonably priced housing, the problem is that it can't be done in places where everyone wants to live. Popular = expensive.
Click to expand...
Most new developments happen to be "communities" which usually means HOAs or similar associations. Such places require mandatory dues and unlike property tax, the system is rigged so dues are not waived for anyone and they can lien you up "for the neighborhood aesthetic and the underlying property values", while management companies make bank because the "volunteers" that are supposed the be the masters are usually controlled by the management company. I hear people say build more...never bothering with...control the HOAs you put in place or destroy the current HOA system completely.

Furthermore, no city ever plans to intentionally tank the property of a particular neighborhood. When a bunch of new houses come, that means more units available at a particular floor price, not a intended decrease of price.

Also having rented to former homeless, some wind up because they were "system exploiters" where they know that there are numerous "free months" built into the eviction system and that testifying lack of a ability to pay or simply stalling by saying "I will pay you" but not doing so results in a frequent eviction record and unwillingness to accept them. Some are just mild "clingy" to money and some Dave Ramsey-esque managment of finances cleans up their behavior.

Others, however, are destructive beings who deserve their status. They're the ones who can exploit weakness in the written contract or the psyche of particular n00b landlords(especially of races where there are legal virgins, such as many Asians) to acquire the key and not only exploit the systemic free months, but also destroy the property and then claim it was always like that.
 
G

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,695
6,136
136
Torn Mind said:
Most new developments happen to be "communities" which usually means HOAs or similar associations. Such places require mandatory dues and unlike property tax, the system is rigged so dues are not waived for anyone and they can lien you up "for the neighborhood aesthetic and the underlying property values", while management companies make bank because the "volunteers" that are supposed the be the masters are usually controlled by the management company. I hear people say build more...never bothering with...control the HOAs you put in place or destroy the current HOA system completely.

Furthermore, no city ever plans to intentionally tank the property of a particular neighborhood. When a bunch of new houses come, that means more units available at a particular floor price, not a intended decrease of price.

Also having rented to former homeless, some wind up because they were "system exploiters" where they know that there are numerous "free months" built into the eviction system and that testifying lack of a ability to pay or simply stalling by saying "I will pay you" but not doing so results in a frequent eviction record and unwillingness to accept them. Some are just mild "clingy" to money and some Dave Ramsey-esque managment of finances cleans up their behavior.

Others, however, are destructive beings who deserve their status. They're the ones who can exploit weakness in the written contract or the psyche of particular n00b landlords(especially of races where there are legal virgins, such as many Asians) to acquire the key and not only exploit the systemic free months, but also destroy the property and then claim it was always like that.
Click to expand...
Most of this goes back to what I said, popular equals expensive. HOA's generally exist to support community property, the rules that govern upkeep and appearance are in place to protect the value of the community. That they often become draconian is more a function of the small minded people put in charge.
 
NTMBK

NTMBK

Lifer
Nov 14, 2011
10,400
5,635
136
I think you could refine the idea a bit. It's good to give them an individual box to live in, but you're still paying a lot of money for functionality you don't really need. I'd build a special model of van with the wheels, brakes and transmission removed, to lower cost. And I'd plug it into the mains electric permanently, take out the battery to reduce costs and fire risk. Make it a bit bigger, so people have space to move around inside.

In fact, just build a goddamn house.
 
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sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
98,732
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Op has no idea how much EVs cost...

Building dwellings with stacked containers, attach services module to it is much more viable option.
 
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Shmee

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 13, 2008
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Hahaha!
 
dave_the_nerd

dave_the_nerd

Lifer
Feb 25, 2011
16,980
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Giving them apartments out of existing housing stock has already been demonstrated to be a money-saver in the long run from reduced use of medical services alone. (Plus they get to bathe, unlike living in a van.) Throw in some addiction counseling and you're way ahead.

No need to be a Techbro and try to resolve a solved problem. Just subsidize the construction of medium density housing and set some aside for homeless people. And maybe make it illegal for corporations to own single family homes so the current batch of middle-income renters can actually buy houses and exert some downward pressure on rent costs.
 
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WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
32,417
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136
Gizmo j said:
Unlike a car, in a van you can put a mattress in the back and have a place to sleep.

Also in a homeless shelter you have risk of disease such as COVID, but in a van you should be safe from most diseases.

The reason I said "electric" van and not a gas powered van is not only to be environmentaly friendly but will allow the homeless to have electricity to power appliances such a laptop, refrigeration, air conditioning, heating and such.

The homeless could also recharge their battery with a solar panel on top of the van, and also charge the van with one of those bicycle things you peddle to charge a battery (I forgot what these are called)

And if you're wondering about hygiene, the homeless could use the toilet or shower at a gym or something, I think that's more cost effective than if say we were to give the homeless RVs instead of vans.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
Or build decent flats for people to live in!
 
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