Over the past few years, movie producer (Revenge of the Nerds) and philanthropist Peter Samuelson became concerned by the increasing numbers of homeless people he was seeing on his twice-weekly bike rides to the beach. And not just concerned about their presence the way lots of Hollywood types might..
Over the past few years, movie producer (Revenge of the Nerds) and philanthropist Peter Samuelson became concerned by the increasing numbers of homeless people he was seeing on his twice-weekly bike rides to the beach. And not just concerned about their presence the way lots of Hollywood types might be, but actually concerned for their welfare.
So he conceived of an innovative, new, shelter/cart called the EDAR (Everyone Deserves a Roof). As the Los Angeles Times reports:
"[The EDAR is] a mobile shopping cart-like apparatus. The cart 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...With a donation from former EBay President Jeff Skoll, he took the design to Precision Wire Products, a manufacturer of shopping carts in Commerce. Precision produced a succession of prototypes, at least nine, to address critiques of the device: too big, too small, too flimsy, not readily collapsible. The units have been thrown down flights of stairs (they're sturdy) and left in the rain (they don't leak).So Samuelson produced Revenge of the Nerds and apparently he's also an avid cyclist, but what really impresses about this guy is the due diligence. He interviewed staff at homeless shelters and homeless people themselves, solicited designs for the EDAR from students at the Art Center College of Design, and enlisted the help of the shopping cart manufacturers. This wasn't just a token bid for karma; he really put in the work.Check out EDAR.org for opportunities to volunteer, contribute with cash, or learn more about the project.
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