> THE 27-YEAR FREEZE AT NAVAJO: UPDATE FOR MARCH 9, 1994
>
> 100 Homes
>
> In the face of a third of a billion dollars in documented
> basic needs, Congress has appropriated $1.45 million through the
> BIA Home Improvement Program (HIP) for construction materials for
> housing the former freeze area. We have been building houses there
> for the last two plus years, five, ten at a time. Any time we can
> scrape together a little money we build a few more...
In the April 10, 1994 issue of Parade Magazine, an article titled "A
Different Kind of House" by Robert Gettlin shared some interesting
information regarding affordable housing. To quote from the article:
"I went to Hopkins, Minn. to meet that man-Robert Leslie, a 56 year old
inventor born in Austrailia... For 26 years, Leslie had worked in more
than 20 mations and designed farm equipment and building products...."
"The house sections would be joined with deep grooves, slots and
pockets-not nails and staples-and bound with strong adhesives, roof clips
and foundation fasteners to create a monolithic structure. By thickening
the skin with more material at key points-corners, window and door
frames, and trim-a network of posts, beams and headers evolved. The wall
panels acted as diagonal braces, further enhancing the strength."
"Leslie builds the components for the Shelter Series houses in Minnesota
at his company, Home Builders International. The houses range in size
from 320 square feet to more than 1,000 square feet. The basic home
costs about $4,000. It is 20 feet long and 16 feet wide... Larger
models, which can accommodate several families, cost about $7,000.
Unlike a traditional home, which might fly apart from punishing winds,
the Shelter Series house has no unbonded openings or corners. It locks
together and works as one piece. In addition, it can be put together by
two people in one day and is easy to transport. Electricity and plumbing
are optional."
For more information, write Home Builders International, Suite 222, Rand
Tower, 527 Marquette Ave., Dept. P, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Jim Clark