Reforming the Environment
Ten years ago in Trimtab we reported on Ted Hayes, homeless activist and his Justiceville, USA. We’ve been following his work over the years and spoke with him recently on the phone. Hayes and his organization, Justiceville/Homeless USA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has transformed an unsightly 1 1/4 acre homeless encampment site in downtown Los Angeles into a community of formerly homeless people allowing them to become more productive, industrious, and responsible. In April of ’93, ARCO, under the then leadership of CEO and Board Chairman, Mr. Lod Cook, led the way with a contribution of $250,000. Mayor Richard Riordan endorsed the project and smoothed the way for progress through the city bureaucracy. The Village opened on November 5, 1993, providing housing and supportive service for 18-24 individuals and families. The 20 foot Omni-Sphere domes “stand as symbols of innovative solutions which depart from the way things have ‘always been done.’”Their most recent addition is the CyberDome, a new computer education center. The computer education center is housed in a special 20 foot Survival Sphere Dome designed by Craig Chamberlain. The Dome Village has been sponsoring regular computer education classes since February 1998 which have provided positive results for many residents. Student volunteers from USC have assisted the Dome Village Program Director with teaching. It is hoped this program will be greatly expanded in 1999. A number of USC/CyberDome special events are planned such as “Cyber Teach-Ins” which will bring volunteers together with homeless and youth from the community for educational programs.
Hayes feels they have learned many good lessons from the current Dome Village. For their next project they plan to improve the domes by using an insulated structure. Currently the cities of Miami Beach, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley have expressed interested in setting up dome villages in their cities.
Hayes has also written the “National Homeless Plan” to “stop outlawing homelessness and to break the homeless cycle.” The Plan advocates the appointment of a cabinet-level Commissioner of Homeless who would have the task of coordinating a National Commission on the Homeless. The Commission would work with HUD and other government agencies to implement real solutions to transition people from homelessness to active economic participation (as outlined in the Plan). The Plan has been submitted to President Clinton and has gained support from Representative Richard Gephart, the Mayor of Los Angeles and others. For a copy of the full Plan visit their web site at www.domevillage.org/plan.htm...
...The Dome Village is located at 847 Golden Avenue in Los Angeles.
Ted Hayes and the Dome Village
It's an experiment to see how the concept flies in Hawaii, says entrepreneur Herb Silva. Manufactured of 15 Fiberglas-Lexan composite material panels, the 314-square-foot structure is pinned together like a jigsaw puzzle, and comes completely packed in a 4- by 4- by 8-foot container.