Homeless Man Gets To Live In A 3D-Printed Tiny Home
Interview70-year-old Tim Shea has come a long way since his days as a homeless heroin addict. In what feels like a 180° life transformation, in September, he moved to the outskirts of Austin to live in a 400-square-foot home constructed by a 3D printer from the company Icon.
“I could never have imagined from where I came from that I would ever have this beautiful place to live in,” Tim told the press recently and called his new home “a miracle.” Before coming to live in the Community First! Village, a 51-acre site which accommodates 500 homes for the chronically homeless, Tim lived in an RV.
Icon’s 3D homes printed with a Vulcan II printer feature one bedroom, one bath, a full kitchen, a living room and a large porch, and give hope to many people without a place to call home. The company’s CEO Jason Ballard said their mission was to “make dignified housing accessible to everyone, everywhere,” and with Tim being the first proud resident of the 3D house, the future looks brighter than ever.
More info: IconBuild.com | Community-First! Village
Formerly homeless man 70-year-old Tim Shea had his life transformed when he became the first resident of a 3D printed house in a community in Austin, Texas in September
Image credits: ICON / New York Post
Before this now-permanent 3D home, Tim lived in the community in an RV. Previously, he struggled with drug addiction and just like many seniors in the US, couldn’t keep affordable housing.
Tim’s 400-square-foot 3D house was built with a 3D Vulcan II printer by the company ICON, which specializes in advanced construction technologies
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
In an interview with NY Post, Tim said that his previous lifestyle made him hide from the world. “I think from my personal experience from my former lifestyle, that I developed a shell. I didn’t feel secure, and any time I had the opportunity, I would hide or isolate. I never really wanted to interact with people.”
Tim is said to be the first resident of one of the 3D printed house
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
But after moving into his new home in September, at the Community First! Village, he had his life completely changed. “Everything I do is just the opposite, and I have many activities to do every day with others,” he said.
The house is located at Community First! Village which is known for its advanced vision on homeless accommodation
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
At first, Tim couldn’t believe he’d be the first person to live in a 3D printed house like this. “When I found out I’d be the first person in America to move into a 3D-printed home, I thought it was pretty awesome. The very people I used to run away from, I’m running to. If you’ve been on both sides of the fence, you know some people just need a little encouragement and support,” he told NY Post.
After moving to a beautiful 3D house, Tim’s life changed dramatically
Image credits: ICON / New York Post
Tim’s 3D house is located in the Community First! Village which has been helping homeless people with shelter, community, and support. Alan Graham, a real estate developer and a founder of the village as well as the project called Mobile Loaves & Fishes, has been helping others to find a place to call home for the past two decades.
ICON has so far developed six different 3D homes, all with different layouts
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
According to Graham, “Home is fundamentally a place of connection and of relationships that are life-giving and foundational.” His goal is “to make everyone feel truly at home by finally inviting those living on the fringes of society into your heart.”
Tim says “it’s just a miracle to me to be living there in a house this beautiful”
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
Tim’s 3D printed home is not the only one of this kind in the village. ICON has constructed 6 3D homes, all with different layouts for different needs to shelter the homeless on the site. Tim has selected an open floor layout since he has arthritis.
His 3D house features one bedroom, one bath, a full kitchen, a living room, and a porch
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
The project was made possible by a continued partnership between ICON, the construction technologies company, and Austin’s Mobile Loaves & Fishes non-profit.
Alan Graham, the founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, commented on the project: “Vulnerable populations like the homeless are never among the first to access leading-edge anything, but now here in Austin, Texas they’re among the first in line who will be living in some of the most unique homes ever built—and we think that’s a beautiful thing.”
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
To find out more about this amazing project, Bored Panda reached out to Brooke Bauguess, vice president of Communications & Public Affairs at ICON. ICON is the Austin, TX-based construction technologies company using 3D robotics, software and advanced materials to shift the paradigm of homebuilding.
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
ICON believes that “3D printing will be the preferred method of homebuilding in the future and are excited to be a pioneer of the technology that has the potential to end homelessness,” Brooke told us.
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
“The US needs 3.3 million homes per year and currently builds 1.3 million. 3D printing construction can help deliver resilient, sustainable, dignified housing across the US and the world.”
Tim, who has overcome drug addiction, chose an open floor plan because of arthritis
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
ICON has delivered two dozen 3D printed homes across Mexico and the US, including social housing projects with nonprofit organizations, mainstream housing developments with developers, and more.
ICON’s printer is controlled by a tablet remotely and takes a crew of four to six people to build a house
Image credits: ICON
“We are grateful for the opportunity to see our technology deliver homes for those in need both in Mexico and to serve those who have experienced homelessness in central Texas,” Brooke said and continued: “Tim Shea in particular happens to be the first person to ever live in an ICON 3D printed home. We worked closely to design and pick out furnishings on this project in particular and are thrilled to see him thriving in his new home.”
A special formulation of concrete was used for the project and applied by a 3D printer that’s basically just a concrete nozzle on the end of a giant robotic arm
Image credits: ICON
“ICON at its heart is innovation for a better future,” said Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON. We’re going to have to take some risks if we want a better world for ourselves, and the team at Mobile Loaves & Fishes shares a similar vision in their efforts to empower the community around them into a lifestyle of service with the homeless. We need a radical rethinking in the way that we approach solving vexing issues in our society like homelessness. At the end of the day, this is all about people and the dignity of human beings.”
Image credits: ICON / Casey Dunn
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
Image credits: ICON / Regan Morton
Many people praised the project and its potential for helping those in need
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Share on FacebookIt could be interesting to know the price difference between this and standard home of the same size. I imagine this one is cheaper, because it takes less labour to build, but it could be nice to know.
From the manufactures site they say it costs around $10,000 to build 1 home, and they'll eventually be able to get it down to $4,000 per home. Not sure what it would be to build a regular home the same size but I'm guessing it's more
Load More Replies...I love this! It’s so cool to see how far we’ve come through technology!
Is that housing permanent? Do they have to pay rent? What happens if they can't, do they get evicted and become homeless again?
This is outstanding 😀 and this is where it starts. If other things eventually get incorporated such as human services, mental health services, some type of out reach, community involvement for those that want it, etc. this could work out! But if it doesn't work out don't give up, try different approaches, working with humans is hard but always worth it 😀. Most people deserve dignity and grace, not all of them, but there is hope for them also.
"America had fallen! People are being put before corporate profits! Conservatives are being forced to measure measure success by their own accomplishments rather than the misery of others!" Fox News headline alert (note this "fact is derived from the same place that Fox gets all of its "facts"...out of someone's hind end)
If I had wealth this is what I would spend it on. Also would be great to print them in a circle around community garden and chicken coop
Thanks for sharing this! I’m delighted with this information, where such important moments are captured. All the best!
Such a wonderful project. I wish more places would do this while helping with mental health & basic life needs to get them all the way back on their feet 🧡
It is sad that they give the homeless by choice new houses. People like me who have worked all their lives (I am in my 70s) never did drugs or drink, and we get stuck. No one thinks anything about us. It makes me angry that the druggies and alcoholics and mental health problems get the money. We who have worked all our lives (yes, except as a kid) and we are ignored. Our park here is a mobile home park, most of the trailers are 30-70 years old. Most of us are women. We don't run around and beg for a house. But we deserve something. We LIVE in these! Why? Because it is too hard to get money together especially with the skewed pay between men and women. I would like to see them help regular people; people who don't do drugs, or drink and also WORKED. We are NOT homeless by choice. We have a trailer, but it's small, and it's old. Think about regular people who need help! Working women! Low pay=low life style. If not married, or rich, it's bad. Good luck.
I am not a massive fan of tiny houses because, like trailer or mobile homes, they are usually not energy efficient and the ones made from plastic or concrete are not sustainable. This story makes fro pretty pictures but I have questions about infrastructure, how the occupants are cared for etc. In my country, the people who are homeless usually have severe mental issues or drug problems. Putting them in a pretty box is better than sleeping on the street but not a long term solution.
Wow! That's really nice. My only thought is... if the entire thing is 3D printed cement, how does the water work?
I reckon t his housing project is far away from the city. How will this man pay for the utilities? How will he get into the city where he can earn some money? He has no vehicle or money to pay for gasoline. How will he get to the store to purchase necessities? You can build me a villa in the middle of a lonesome island, and I still can't live in it.
Look in to Jacque Fresco and The Venus Project. He predicted and planned for this. He worked on these ideas since the 1960's. An amazing futurist and engineer whos ideals, goals and inventions humans will, hopefully, build on in the future, if we have the will. He was an extraordinary man with extraordinary ideas.
Why does a rich country have so many homeless people. After getting divorced I was homeless but was provided temp accommodation on the same day. I managed to get my own place 6 months later. We don't actually have people sleeping rough here. In bigger cities there are a few, but they are usually people with mental illnesses who have refused help..
Wonderful story and beautiful photos. I'd love to live in a house like that. And so great to see that lovely, happy man <3 Ron Entler Jr, however (comment screenshots) is an ignorant asshole. Foreign aid isn't "thrown away" or "wasted;" the USA has profited massively from other countries and what they give back is the bare minimum. Plus investing in the well-being of the world helps everyone. Great case in point is covid - we need the WHOLE WORLD vaccinated for us all to be safe; keeping vaccines in rich countries only will cause further outbreaks. People like Ron think they're superior because of where they were born when they can't even learn the basics of how things work (or grammar and punctuation of his own native language). Ugh.
no insulation... hot in summer, cold in winter... Concrete is a soft sedimentary stone... it must be painted with a sealing compound paint or it will dissolve in the rainy weather... just like any stucco house... this house is more suited to the desert than Austin...
This is awesome but it is far from the first. They are using a system invented by a Chinese man who has been building them, as well as other building types, since 2014. There's a 3-story apartment building in Germany using the patent and Ireland has plenty of these houses.
They are saying he is the first IN THE UNITED STATES, not the first in the world, to live in a house made by this technology.
Load More Replies...This attitude is disgusting and part of the reason so much sucks right now. You see an inspiring story of a homeless, elderly man getting a home...and your first reaction is to bitterly complain and be negative? How repulsive, hope you never have to experience homelessness and have to deal with unfeeling individuals like yourself.
Load More Replies...It could be interesting to know the price difference between this and standard home of the same size. I imagine this one is cheaper, because it takes less labour to build, but it could be nice to know.
From the manufactures site they say it costs around $10,000 to build 1 home, and they'll eventually be able to get it down to $4,000 per home. Not sure what it would be to build a regular home the same size but I'm guessing it's more
Load More Replies...I love this! It’s so cool to see how far we’ve come through technology!
Is that housing permanent? Do they have to pay rent? What happens if they can't, do they get evicted and become homeless again?
This is outstanding 😀 and this is where it starts. If other things eventually get incorporated such as human services, mental health services, some type of out reach, community involvement for those that want it, etc. this could work out! But if it doesn't work out don't give up, try different approaches, working with humans is hard but always worth it 😀. Most people deserve dignity and grace, not all of them, but there is hope for them also.
"America had fallen! People are being put before corporate profits! Conservatives are being forced to measure measure success by their own accomplishments rather than the misery of others!" Fox News headline alert (note this "fact is derived from the same place that Fox gets all of its "facts"...out of someone's hind end)
If I had wealth this is what I would spend it on. Also would be great to print them in a circle around community garden and chicken coop
Thanks for sharing this! I’m delighted with this information, where such important moments are captured. All the best!
Such a wonderful project. I wish more places would do this while helping with mental health & basic life needs to get them all the way back on their feet 🧡
It is sad that they give the homeless by choice new houses. People like me who have worked all their lives (I am in my 70s) never did drugs or drink, and we get stuck. No one thinks anything about us. It makes me angry that the druggies and alcoholics and mental health problems get the money. We who have worked all our lives (yes, except as a kid) and we are ignored. Our park here is a mobile home park, most of the trailers are 30-70 years old. Most of us are women. We don't run around and beg for a house. But we deserve something. We LIVE in these! Why? Because it is too hard to get money together especially with the skewed pay between men and women. I would like to see them help regular people; people who don't do drugs, or drink and also WORKED. We are NOT homeless by choice. We have a trailer, but it's small, and it's old. Think about regular people who need help! Working women! Low pay=low life style. If not married, or rich, it's bad. Good luck.
I am not a massive fan of tiny houses because, like trailer or mobile homes, they are usually not energy efficient and the ones made from plastic or concrete are not sustainable. This story makes fro pretty pictures but I have questions about infrastructure, how the occupants are cared for etc. In my country, the people who are homeless usually have severe mental issues or drug problems. Putting them in a pretty box is better than sleeping on the street but not a long term solution.
Wow! That's really nice. My only thought is... if the entire thing is 3D printed cement, how does the water work?
I reckon t his housing project is far away from the city. How will this man pay for the utilities? How will he get into the city where he can earn some money? He has no vehicle or money to pay for gasoline. How will he get to the store to purchase necessities? You can build me a villa in the middle of a lonesome island, and I still can't live in it.
Look in to Jacque Fresco and The Venus Project. He predicted and planned for this. He worked on these ideas since the 1960's. An amazing futurist and engineer whos ideals, goals and inventions humans will, hopefully, build on in the future, if we have the will. He was an extraordinary man with extraordinary ideas.
Why does a rich country have so many homeless people. After getting divorced I was homeless but was provided temp accommodation on the same day. I managed to get my own place 6 months later. We don't actually have people sleeping rough here. In bigger cities there are a few, but they are usually people with mental illnesses who have refused help..
Wonderful story and beautiful photos. I'd love to live in a house like that. And so great to see that lovely, happy man <3 Ron Entler Jr, however (comment screenshots) is an ignorant asshole. Foreign aid isn't "thrown away" or "wasted;" the USA has profited massively from other countries and what they give back is the bare minimum. Plus investing in the well-being of the world helps everyone. Great case in point is covid - we need the WHOLE WORLD vaccinated for us all to be safe; keeping vaccines in rich countries only will cause further outbreaks. People like Ron think they're superior because of where they were born when they can't even learn the basics of how things work (or grammar and punctuation of his own native language). Ugh.
no insulation... hot in summer, cold in winter... Concrete is a soft sedimentary stone... it must be painted with a sealing compound paint or it will dissolve in the rainy weather... just like any stucco house... this house is more suited to the desert than Austin...
This is awesome but it is far from the first. They are using a system invented by a Chinese man who has been building them, as well as other building types, since 2014. There's a 3-story apartment building in Germany using the patent and Ireland has plenty of these houses.
They are saying he is the first IN THE UNITED STATES, not the first in the world, to live in a house made by this technology.
Load More Replies...This attitude is disgusting and part of the reason so much sucks right now. You see an inspiring story of a homeless, elderly man getting a home...and your first reaction is to bitterly complain and be negative? How repulsive, hope you never have to experience homelessness and have to deal with unfeeling individuals like yourself.
Load More Replies...
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