NPSA Applauds Home for Hope Innovations

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The National Portable Storage Association recognizes Home for Hope, a project developed by ASU students to help people in the wake of disaster.

KANSAS CITY, MO. (December 8, 2010) – Five years after Hurricane Katrina, nearly 12,000 people in New Orleans are still homeless. The earthquake that struck Haiti last January left more than 180,000 homes damaged or destroyed and more than 1.5 million people homeless. Both disasters showed that current relief efforts are simply inadequate, despite the hard work and generosity of individuals and organizations all over the world.

Natural disasters like these are what inspired Home for Hope, a project developed by Arizona State University students that was selected to receive an Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative grant of $15,000. Home for Hope aims to ease housing shortages by providing durable, mobile shelter units to those in need. Each unit will be an adapted 20-foot-long recycled shipping container that can house up to eight people.

"Current disaster and homeless shelters are often made from products that can tear, rot or be destroyed after one use. Our design, using recycled products like shipping containers and reclaimed wood, is designed to last years, if not decades," says Laron Turley, the team leader and owner of the Home for Hope idea and venture.

The National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry applauds the work of Home for Hope. John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director of the NPSA, says Home for Hope is teaching students about creative design, as well as creative giving.

"Projects Home for Hope are filling a major need in society," Finnessy says. "We are honored that the portable storage industry can play some small role in helping the homeless. But it wouldn't be possible without projects like Home for Hope. This project is not only innovative, it could be life-saving."

For more information, visit www.npsa-us.org.

The National Portable Storage Association
The National Portable Storage Association is dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. We at the NPSA are here to serve those in the portable storage industry who rent, sell or lease containers, trailers and mobile offices. The NPSA assists members with industry, regulatory and workforce issues; plus, offers members networking, marketing and legislative support at national, state and local levels.

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