When the Kentucky State Fair rolls around next week (Aug. 20-30), Kentucky Habitat for Humanity will shine the spotlight on a new way to provide simple, decent, affordable and energy-efficient housing for low-income Kentuckians: a cargo container home.
Kentucky Habitat is currently retrofitting a cargo-container prototype in West Liberty. But the container house will be transported to the fair on Aug. 18 to introduce the concept to a wider audience.
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Before the fair opens at 9 a.m. Aug 20, volunteers will make last-minute preparations, including outdoor landscaping, attaching the front deck and furnishing/styling of the interior space. Attendees will be able to walk through the container house while staff and volunteers are on-site to answer questions.
“Our goal is for everyone to see the possibilities of these homes and how they can serve even our most at-risk and underserved Kentuckian,” said Executive Director Mary Shearer.
These cargo-container homes can fit into almost any lot size, withstand most climate zones, meet all zoning codes and can be built to blend into any housing context, Shearer said. While the prototype is a one-bedroom unit that can accommodate one to two people, containers can be configured with additional containers to accommodate more.
One of the primary motivations behind this construction design is cost to the homeowner- $25,000, she said. Additionally, the cargo container design also seeks to provide shelter that is a response to the need to construct sustainable housing within a fragile ecosystem.
“The design stems from two principal visions: to take that which is wasted and develop something that serves a vital human need and to take a primitive design (a metal box) and make this into a sustainable, structural foundation for an affordable, home for extremely low-income residents,” Shearer added.
In addition to the container home, volunteers will “frame up” a version of a Habitat tiny house, which they call a cabin, for fair attendees. The cabin is a 288-square-foot, stick-built, energy-efficient house that can also serve Kentuckians with extremely low incomes.
The West Liberty prototype is being constructed by staff and volunteers of the Cave Run Area Habitat for Humanity. The inmates at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, also located in West Liberty, have already completed the custom made kitchen cabinetry for the home. Kentucky Habitat is also working with the Volunteers of America to identify Veterans who are ready for homeownership.
The exhibit space is by the main entrance to the Exposition building across from Freddie Farm Bureau.
From Kentucky Habitat