Making a difference, one railroad car at a time

Meadows students help create units for temporary housing

Jim Miller/ViewGary Cornwell makes the first cut into a railroad car that was converted by students from The Meadows School into an affordable, temporary housing unit, May 14. The units will benefit people displaced by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman hopes they can be used to help eradicate homelessness. Jim Miller/ViewArnold Stalk, founder of SHARE, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit group dedicated to helping solve housing problems, talks with Abbie Friedman and Michael Mack about railroad containers that his company uses to create affordable housing. Advertisement

It was a rust-colored railroad container car. The inside was nothing but a few cobwebs, exposed bolts and permanent marker claiming it as a "Suburban Train."

But after craftsmen and The Meadows School students finished working on it, the container car was turned into an Instant-Built house -- a temporary quarters with windows and a front door. Best of all, the sturdy, hurricane-defying steel housing unit can easily be deployed almost anywhere in the country. After all, it's already traveled by cargo ship, railroad car and tractor trailer.

Carol Goodman, founder of The Meadows School, spoke about how the students pitched in to do painting and add finishing touches. The program was unveiled on a day when valley temperatures climbed close to 100.

"On the walk up here, I was thinking of how hot it will be inside," she said. "I hope you have a cooler."

About 50 Meadows students were expected to be part of the effort. They volunteered their time after school to do the finishing work.

Seventeen-year-old The Meadows School junior Josh Friedman said he was looking forward to working on it. He just didn't want to have to handle power tools or "anything with sparks." Elizabeth Wiesner, 17, also a junior, said she wants to contribute by painting artwork and hanging it in the car.

The idea to make unused railroad container units into temporary shelters was spearheaded by Arnold Stalk, founder of SHARE, a Nevada-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping solve housing problems. SHARE is working with METRO Development Group LLC and the Friedman Family Foundation, a local charity founded last year to help those in need.

Stalk brought up Hurricane Katrina as an example of why sturdy, portable housing is needed.

"National disasters are going to continue to happen," he said. "And we're not prepared right now."

It was estimated that refurbishing the railway car would take 120 hours of work at a cost of $18,000. The car will be available for use in the event of a disaster.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman called it a "phenomenal idea" and said Nevada is poised to take advantage of it.

"Our Legislature is now talking about transitional housing," he said. "We want to end homelessness within 10 years."

There are about 12.5 million unused railroad containers sitting in ports around the world. The containers measure 40-by-8-by-8.6 feet, and can be stacked or reconfigured to create homes measuring up to 2,000 square feet in width or height.

"We like doing stuff like this," said Meadows School junior Carly Wolfbrandt, 17. "When it's all done, you get a sense of accomplishment."

Community volunteers are welcome to particpate in the projects. To participate, or for more information, call 304-4699.