NECESSITY HOUSING

www.necessityhousing.com
By Barry Leneman
We have done it again: Proven that building a durable house can be done quickly and with unskilled labor…… for $1,000.

That’s right. A two room house made from local materials in six hours with double thick walls and lots of light. Not only can it be done,
but Necessity Housing did it……at UCLA on May 7th, 2008. Who says so? We are told so many times that we can not do things -
that sometimes we start to believe it.

Necessity Housing is here to remind people that if you can dream it, you can make it happen…..and that is just what we have done.

Our question is, why isn’t there job training for construction of these homes?

Skills Training = Economic Engine
There is hardly a community on this planet that does not need affordable shelter, and one of the best ways to provide that necessary commodity is to generate an economic advantage to having homes built.

The most obvious reason is to have more people employed, because when we have employment, opportunities are created for all the ancillary businesses to flourish. Commodities like food, clothing, and health services, become the foundation of new communities – the very same communities that are being built by the newly trained residents that will be living in the homes they build.

What we are doing NOW!
Trees for a Sustainable Africa is a planting partnership with the Coalition for a Sustainable Africa and Global Green, the United States division of Green Cross. The SEE conference will integrate educational, governmental, and nongovernmental institutions with the people of Southern California in a united effort to bring sustainable solutions that respond to global concerns with local actions.

DONOR IN THE DRIVER SEAT
“Add A Wall” Teaching w/ materials, how to build a wall…………………………………………………….. $ 250
“Build A Roof” Installation w/ instruction for an entire roof…………………………………………………. $ 500
“Pour A Foundation” Your name imprinted in concrete……………………………………………………….. $ 1,000
“Raise A House” Build an entire home + your dedication plaque………………………………………… $ 5,000
“Install A Factory” Materials plant + 100 home dedications………………………………………………… $50,000

Send all tax deductible donations directly to:
Necessity Housing – Box 1306 Topanga, CA 90290

For donors:
Tax-deductible receipts will be sent immediately. Pictures of your donation will be sent to you upon installation. And progress reports on your contribution will be made monthly.

Barry Leneman is founding President of Necessity Housing and an advocate of sustainable solutions with 22 years of construction and teaching experience. Mr. Leneman co-founded and taught construction systems at the social action middle-school Topanga Mountain School and started the Social Justice Foundation for the Freedom of Expression.

His work with Necessity Housing has created the blueprint for a sustainable village currently being developed in Hammanskrall, South Africa, and continues to teach communities around the world how to use local materials to build durable housing in three days.

In addition, he is developing a residential housing that incorporates all aspects ‘rational development’ including active and passive solar energy production and savings, water reducing and reclamation systems, permaculture landscaping, and climate responsive design. Mr. Leneman is an active participant in helping NextAid develop their eco-village child support center by bringing alternative building materials, appropriate technologies and techniques to the Dennilton center to further underscore its role as a model for future centers to be built throughout Africa.

How does Aid to Artisans Make a Difference? – Willard’s story…

Before meeting Aid to Artisans, I was sinking into deep trenches of desperation. Time was going by and I realized I had to make a living, sooner rather than later. I decided to be creative. When we were teenagers, we used to make cars, bicycles and animals for fun out of wire. This time, I did it to sell to tourists who come to Cape Town. It became my job although the income I generated was not sufficient, constant or regular, so I still couldn’t prepare a budget. I had to grow.

I decided to approach the Cape Crafts and Design Institute for assistance and luckily, I met Aid to Artisans and Stephen Burks, an American Designer. We designed a wire table. It took us 2 years to develop until it was accepted for an exhibition. The first time it hit the market, the product was hand picked by a U.S. distributor, Artecnica. I was able to use the income to start my own business, Feeling African, which has created jobs for 9 people and myself.

I will never forget when my tables were chosen as best product in South Africa at Design Indaba 2006, when they appeared in 20 South African magazines and twice in The New York Times, in Feb. 2007 and Feb. 2008. A short film was made for my product. We now have a studio to work in.

We still have a long way to go to make more products and to be more established with different business people and organizations. But I saw my dream come true and I will keep trying even harder.

-Willard Musarurwa

Founded in 1976, Aid to Artisans is an international development nonprofit that helps craftsmakers around the world build income generating businesses in a culturally and environmentally sensitive manner. Over the past 10 years, Aid to Artisans has helped bring income to 125,000 artisans in 41 developing regions where livelihoods, communities and craft traditions are at risk. Aid to Artisans is currently working on several initiatives in countries including India and Colombia, where a civil war continues to ravage the Choco Region. To learn more and how you can help, go to: http://www.aidtoartisans.org/.