# Alternative Homeless Shelters The EDAR Project Provides Mini Mobile Units By Tinkalicious | Published 2008-12-13 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/homeless-shelter-alternative-the-edar-project References: [boingboing.net](http://boingboing.net/2008/12/10/popup-minishelter-fo.html) & [edar.org](http://www.edar.org/) To alleviate the increasing necessity to provide some form of shelter for homeless people, EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof) is a “charity that provides unique [mobile shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emergency-refuge-shelter) to those living on the streets all around us.” Each EDAR is a four-wheeled mobile unit which carries and transports belongings and facilitates recycling during the day. At night, the unit unfolds into a one-person framed [tent-like sleeping enclosure](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grayhus) complete with a bed. The EDAR Project is the collaboration of Eric Lindeman, Jason Zasa and Peter Samuelson. Lindeman and Zasa are students at the Art Center College of Design, while Samuelson is a philanthropist/movie producer of ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ fame. Former [eBay](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/up-running-grants) President Jeff Skoll also donated start-up money to have a prototype built by shopping cart manufacturer Precision Wire in Commerce, California. After at least nine attempts, they produced the current version, and 60 units have so far been distributed in the Los Angeles area. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 56% | Activity: 85% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Activism](https://www.trendhunter.com/activism) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Mobile Shelters:** There is an opportunity for companies to develop mobile shelters similar to the EDAR Project to provide relief for homeless people. - **Sustainable Homeless Solutions:** There is a need for companies to provide sustainable homeless solutions like the EDAR mobile units which facilitate recycling during the day. - **Collaborative Philanthropy:** Companies can adopt a collaborative philanthropy approach to address social issues, similar to the collaboration between Eric Lindeman, Jason Zasa, Peter Samuelson, and Jeff Skoll on the EDAR Project. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Non-profit:** Non-profit organizations can adopt a mobile shelter approach, similar to the EDAR Project, and distribute to the homeless population in their respective areas. - **Retail:** Retail companies can partner with non-profits to provide funding for the creation and distribution of mobile homeless shelters, like the EDAR Project, and showcase their commitment to social responsibility to their customers. - **Manufacturing:** Manufacturing companies can leverage their capabilities to produce mobile homeless shelters, like the EDAR Project, and collaborate with non-profits to fulfill the social need of providing shelter for homeless people. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Homeless Support Backpacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-makeshift-traveler-backpack.md) - [Eco-Friendly Modular Refugee Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allspace-1.md) - [Humanized Waiting Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/de-wachtkamer.md) - [Origami-Inspired Disaster Relief Pods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prefab-folding-pods.md) - [Affordable Tiny Home Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oshawa-micro-housing-pilot.md) - [Disaster-Ready Housing Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/essential-homes.md) - [Hard-Walled Rooftop Campers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antishanty-rtd.md) - [Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lifesaving-outdoors.md) - [Housing Crisis Presentation Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/real-life-roomsets.md)