The Toms one for one model of social business is being applied liberally to a range of other products, but World Housing is going bigger than most would dare. The Canadian organization is a one for one housing model started by real estate veterans Peter Dupuis and Sid Landolt.
In partnership with the Cambodian Children's Fund, World Housing collaborates with Phnom Penh trash pickers whose homes are made from scavenged materials like cardboard. The slum dwellers' new $2500 shed-like houses on stilts are financed by North American developers who take from their luxury condo marketing budgets. Their developments are then branded World Housing certified communities.
The focus on poverty-reducing home-building in developing countries is due to need and also to the low construction cost of new houses.
One for One Houses
World Housing is Working in Cambodia to Provide the Poor with Proper Shelter
Trend Themes
1. One for One Housing - The one for one business model can be applied to providing proper shelter for the poor in developing countries.
2. Collaborative Social Enterprise - Partnering with local organizations to build homes creates new opportunities for innovative, sustainable and socially conscious enterprises.
3. Luxury Condo Marketing Budgets for Social Good - Using marketing funds from luxury condo developments to finance housing in impoverished areas provides an opportunity for social good.
Industry Implications
1. Real Estate - Real estate developers can apply one for one housing model to build affordable shelter in developing countries.
2. Construction - Low-cost construction for building homes in impoverished areas can be a new market with great potential for growth.
3. Social Enterprises - Collaborative social enterprise that partners with local communities to address poverty through innovative housing solutions can be a new avenue for social good.