How do I get an EDAR unit in my area?
If you would like more information on how to obtain an EDAR unit, please contact Courtney Lyman at 310-208-1000 x124.
I can see how this idea might help some, but doesn't EDAR institutionalize homelessness?
Only if you believe sleeping inside a frame covered in canvas at night on the streets will be preferred by most to a permanent safe bed! Please remember that there are far, far too few beds available in shelters to house all our homeless. The cost of building or refurbishing a traditional shelter is approximately $100,000 per bed created. Is our society ready to spend this any time soon? The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty reports that there are many more homeless people than available beds; many try to access emergency/transitional shelter but are turned away. We calculate that the total cost of housing all the homeless just in Los Angeles exceeds $3 billion.
How do you distribute the EDAR units?
The EDAR units are being distributed in three ways:
1. EDAR works with current philanthropic, governmental and religious organizations who currently work to house the homeless in temporary and permanent housing programs. EDAR units are being used as a “first step” into the homeless shelters for those that are typically reluctant to enter a traditional shelter system. The shelter creates a relationship with the homeless person who is using the EDAR unit and with time, the homeless person will often transition into the shelter’s program.
2. The EDAR units are being used as additional beds in shelters where there is a lack of portable cots for the homeless each night. EDAR users are mobile with the EDAR units during the day, and are allowed to enter the shelter grounds and sleep in a designated area. This provides the shelter more sleeping units and gives the homeless person much more privacy than the traditional cot on which they might sleep.
3. The EDAR units are also given to homeless clients directly, those who are in need of a more comfortable place to sleep that protects them from the elements, for those who cannot or will not go to a shelter.
Why would a homeless person use an EDAR unit over a shelter bed?
Many who are homeless are not comfortable living in shelters and many shelters offer only temporary accommodation. Additionally, on any night there are many homeless who are unable to get a shelter bed due to overcrowding. EDAR for sure is not as good as permanent, safe shelter. But it is much, much better than a cardboard box under a freeway overpass!
Besides distribution, does EDAR work with other organizations to address related problems of homelessness?
Yes. EDAR has many friends and volunteers working in the field of advocacy for the homeless community who do address related problems of homelessness. They provide EDAR’s staff with perspective regarding the homeless community as well as the resources to widely distribute EDAR's and thus to help our organization grow exponentially.
What security does EDAR offer to an individual from crime?
Living rough on our streets is inherently dangerous. In Day Mode, EDAR secures personal belongings by the use of locks. In Night Mode, there are translucent windows that help each person remain aware of their surroundings.
Please describe an EDAR community.
Five to ten EDAR's are used as modular components of a pod grouping, creating a community effect on land provided by a local authority or other entity which wishes to move homeless people away from random locations and towards a facility where bathrooms and other necessities are added at minimal cost. Cities own many pieces of scrap land which go to waste. Similar to the Dome Village in downtown Los Angeles, the local authority provides unused land, so that EDAR can be used as the ready-made basis of a small community, having positive security, hygiene and social services for the homeless.
Are EDAR's hard for homeless individuals to operate?
In our design, we ensured that EDAR was stronger than the average supermarket cart many homeless use. We developed wheels that are better than a supermarket cart's, being slightly larger and easier to steer in a consistent fashion. There is a comfortable handle with which the unit is pushed and steered. We have also included a brake and locking mechanism which ensures the unit will not move on its own.
Who is the EDAR staff?
Julie Yurth Himot is our EDAR Program Coordinator. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact her at 310-208-1000 x109 or Julie@edar.org