Cardborigami is an immediate disaster relief shelter that can be distributed through various philanthropic, governmental and religious organizations to the urban homeless population as well as to disaster relief victims in need of temporary housing.

A typical Cardborigami shelter is made of standard corrugated cardboard that has been treated to make it both water-proof and flame-retardant. Following treatment, each cardboard sheet is mechanically scored to ensure uniform construction that will aid in the process of its deployment. Each cardboard unit can be unfolded to provide a sizeable space for temporary shelter. When not in use or when being transported, each unit can be folded into a size that is easily carried by a single person.

Distribution will initially begin through established organizations where staff will train the homeless to fold and utilize their own individual shelters. By organizing it as a hybrid outreach program Cardborigami and its distributors will be able to engage the population in self-serving work that can hopefully establish better trust between them and the aid organizations. In addition, a recycling program can be integrated into the Cardborigami distribution system that will encourage the homeless to collect cardboard and turn it in for recycling at the same centers where they can construct and pick up their own portable unit.

In its secondary role as an alternative to current disaster relief solutions such as the tent structures that are being distributed by FEMA, the Cardborigami shelter can provide inexpensive, sturdy protection with superior insulation against the elements which can easily be folded and shipped in bulk to stricken areas.

Cardborigami envisions a world in which homelessness is nonexistent. Every human being, regardless of class, creed, gender, income, race, or sexual orientation deserves a place to call home. By making the current situation visible, the Cardborigami solution hopes to bring the overall crisis to public attention. The temporary shelter is a visible one, but more importantly it will remind the public that homelessness will not be ignored.

In its role as a transitional shelter, it will fulfill our mission of sheltering the marginalized members of our Society. In its role as a symbol of the countless individuals who still lack a permanent place to dwell; it will fulfill our vision of raising people’s awareness of how vast the current homeless situation is. On a practical and symbolic level, we envision that Cardborigami will eventually help to end the problem of homelessness, first locally and then internationally.

Currently, the project is in the prototype phase. We have taken the shelter to Skid Row and gotten ample feedback about the unit. Currently Tina Hovsepian, the creator and General Director of Cardborigami Inc., is starting a non-profit based on the project and applying to funding in order to continue developing the unit. Once the design is complete we hope to distribute the shelter around the world.