The EDAR, a cross between a shopping cart and a pop-up camper, is a step up.
EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof) provides shelter to the homeless in an innovative cost and usage effective way. The EDAR unit is a purpose-specific, special four-wheeled enclosed device, very roughly reminding one of a covered shopping cart.
During the day, the EDAR unit is used to pursue the necessities of life. Personal belongings are secured by the use of locks. The front and back of the cart have storage baskets with removable canvas pouches. The unit is waterproof and provides protection for what it contains. EDAR’s wheels are better than a supermarket cart’s, being slightly larger and easier to steer in a consistent fashion. There are two brake and locking mechanisms which ensure the unit will not move on its own.
At night, the EDAR unit easily hinges out and down to Night Mode in less than 30 seconds, becoming a sleeping unit. Unfolding the unit allows it to lock in place as the flat metal base extends. The metal and wood base has a mattress and military-grade canvas cover, providing a robust tent-like shelter. The unit is flame-retardant, waterproof, windproof and helps protect from the elements. There are translucent windows that provides light and a view of the surrounding area. By re-folding the unit, the EDAR quickly returns to Day Mode.
EDAR’s are given free of charge as resources allow, to homeless people directly and through our shelter partners. We track the progress of the EDAR units through our shelter partners and by asking the users to call a toll-free number to let us know how each EDAR is working for them and exactly how and where they are using the EDAR.
To learn more about the EDAR and to donate to this great cause go here.
Photo Credits EDAR and Los Angeles Times
Edar Comes to Downtown Los Angeles and the Union Rescue Mission
Film producer and philanthropist Peter Samuelson sits in one of the mobile shelters he developed. The EDAR, short for Everyone Deserves a Roof, features bins to hold cans, bottles and other recyclables collected by day. It folds out to create a sleeping platform, topped by a canvas cover with zippers and windows.
An EDAR belonging to Christopher Raynor sits near Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon Road. “This is one of the greatest damn gifts you could ever give to anybody,” Raynor says.
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