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56 Comments
- breakerjump, on 10/12/2007, -1/+37This has got to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Ever. Whoever is sponsoring this design contest has no clue what homeless life entails. It's got slots for identification papers and medical records?! Homeless people do not posess these things regularly. If they did, they could lodge at the Salvation Army or elsewhere overnight. Most sleep under bridges because they've got no ID and therefore cannot get entrance into a shelter. These carts would be stolen and destroyed within a week and a homeless person living on the street would not even think about enclosing him/herself inside a "tent" wherein they could not monitor there surroundings. Homeless people are murdered in their sleep on a regular basis. Furthermore, many homeless people do not have the mental facility to even keep track of one of these things, hence the homelessness. Then, of course, you’ve got the bartering of the torch light and raw materials of the cart itself for drug money – likely crack cocaine or methamphetamine. If the metals the cart is made of are sturdy enough to endure one month on the street, then they’re likely valuable enough to be sold to a scrap yard, which would be one of the first things on a homeless person’s mind.
The end-goal here is obviously a government grant for the most cockamamie idea ever thought up, and I would wager the first city to spend public funds to put these carts into service would probably be located in California...just saying.
All this coming from an individual who spent just under a year on the streets of southern Florida and is currently a law enforcement officer. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+20They don't want jobs, silly.
- DuoPros, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17@MiddleGirth
I think you mean *Wino*bago.
/jk - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16It's an Urban Winnebago!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9cool a place to sleep while the wife shops, if it has power i am sold.. dont know how she'll push me from back there but i will let her work that out.
- bryguy000, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Artistic bastards.
- kevnaca, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Do you really think they will pay for a designer shopping cart? You're going to be a high class hobo. The problem though is that this no solution for the homeless. Jobs are necessary or you just see this on the streets.
- Icecream, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9This money should be spend helping the homeless get off the streets and into a home.
Altho the cart is wicked. - Sonic84, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9first the bums peddle for money outside my store, then they steal my booz, now they can sleep anywhere they darn well please? is anyone seeing a problem here?!?!
- blqysmg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The people who started this contest had the best intentions -- I was reading about it from the very start. Unfortunately, they really have no idea what causes people to be homeless in the first place, or the consequences of becoming homeless.
I volunteer in a homeless mission once a month. We get to know most of our homeless pretty well. Many of them have been on the streets for years, not because they can't get off the streets, but because they don't really want to. It's a live choice for most long term homeless.
True, there are some unfortunate people who have made stupid decisions, or have had a run of really bad luck, and are temporarily homeless. They tend to get off the streets in about two months, once they find a job and a place to live. Some of the stay off the streets, some are back on a couple of times before they figure things out.
The long term homeless are different, however. The biggest problem with being truely homeless is that it is nearly impossible to keep any valuable possessions. I knew a guy who lived in his van for about a year. He had all of his clothes and other neccessities in it.
One day, he was arrested for being near a drug bust (just in the wrong place at the wrong time,) and his van was impounded. He was let out of jail a week later without being charged, but he was required to pay the towing and impound charge to get his van back. It was $200--much more money than he had. So, he lost his van and all of his clothes, shoes, shaving gear, documents, and everything else he possessed. The van was eventually cleaned out and sold at auction. He doesn't know what became of everything else.
If the shopping carts have any value whatsoever, they will be stolen, vandalized, stripped, destroyed, impounded or otherwise lost within a couple of weeks. Hell, they can't keep a clean set of clothes, or a blanket for more time than that. When the overpass gets raided, all of those things get collected into a big garbage truck and hauled away. What do you think would happen to a shopping cart? - opusagogo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6stupid stupid stupid... why didn't they just spend their time working at a homeless shelter, maybe making a real difference, instead? *sigh* this was a selfless thing to do. shame on designer and submitter
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@Araya213:
Most shelters are not run by the government, dumbass. - jephwhy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6if they could afford to buy this, they wouldn't need it to begin with. where's the logic again?!?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@BigGeek
the government - ggko, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5While not a bad thing per se, how far separated is working at a homeless shelter from just "giving a man a fish?" These people are designers, not social workers, what more can they really do there than pass out soup and maybe paint the walls?
The purpose of this competition isn't to create something that'll go into widespread production. The shopping carts currently used by homeless are obviously stolen by the letter of the law. Now they're going to try and make and sell a cart to stores that by design is to be appropriated the neighborhood homeless? Likewise, if you're going to make something to be used by the homeless, why limit yourself to the shopping cart for the design base? This is more of a thought (and design,) exercise, and spreads awareness of the the situation of some homeless people.
There's probably some degree of empty self-serving warm-fuzzy satisfaction in it, but would you rather the participants consider the day to day issues of the cart-pushing homeless, or create the next great deodorant-stick applicator?
And who knows, maybe a side effect of this article will be some people thinking "this is bullsh*t, I'll do something real and volunteer at/donate to the local shelter." But I really doubt anyone here will actually carry through to that. - Lane, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Some ones going to make Millions!!!
- Fett101, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5http://www.designboom.com/contest/view.php?contest_pk=10&item_pk=6242&p=1
I predict 'The Jackass Luge' - DarkSorrow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4that look uncomfortable....
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It has been proven that giving most of the homeless "homes" doesn't work. I forget where it was done, but it was a miserable failure because:
a) No one wanted it in "their" neighborhood. (NIMBY)
b) they trashed the properties because:
1) they decided to make some money selling the plumbing and electrical wiring.
2) they were mentally unable to take care of the place
3) they were looking for the bugs and cameras
4) they just didn't care. ( Just look at most public housing today)
c) many of the mentally ill would not stay in them because they were paranoid, heard voice telling them leave, etc
d) after the places had been trashed, the few who it would do good didn't want to live there - Daedalus317, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3They're not homeless they're urban outdoors-men
- Salmonized, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3How 'bout making it collapsable so it can be sold or rented out to travelers at airports who could use some zzzz's....
- Athyrius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Above the closet there is a mounting position for a rechargeable flashlight that lights the interior of the tent."
So obviously it must have power...
This has got to be a joke of the first magnitude. - liquidizer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Have we given up on the idea of trying to give homes to the homeless to the extent that we think a shopping trolley is a good substitute?
Would you want to sleep on the streets in a shopping trolley, knowing that anyone could give it a good push and send you into the river?
This will probably win lots of design awards, which tells you more about design awards than real life. - stephenwq, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen
Bloody hell, hear BS and then spit it out to more people who also believe this BS. You are one of these people. - okokitsme, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It's supposed to be the shopping carts that homeless people keep, pushing along with them and storing their possessions. Not for general shopping use!
- MedHead, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Could this count as a residence so that they could get a job?
- thydzik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2what about compact-ability, can't see these fitting nicely inside each other.
- knivesdev, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2How do these carts make their way to the homeless? They look like really crappy carts too.
- jamieburgess, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Get rid of the divider on the inside, and add hooks to the top sides for bags.
- Himself, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2let them eat cake
- thinksage, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think homeless people should be used for our entertainment. Imagine homeless gladiators fighting each other to the death for a six pack of beer. Or better yet 'Homeless Survivor'. Kidnap ten specially selected useless homeless people put them on an island with hidden cameras. You can even have games like king of the mountain. Tell them that there is a big ball of crack at the top and watch them fight for it. Now before you all start getting uppity and saying that I am a heartless bastard... Just ask yourself one question. Why is this problem still around? In the land of opportunity, various charities and social services, how is it that people (mentally ill or drug dependant) or just plain lazy choose to stay on the streets?
- Grig, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Stupid. Anyone who gets all warm and fuzzy and think they've helped someone by giving them this is stupid.
People who can't care for themselves should be institutionalized.
People who won't care for themselves get what they choose. - themadrammer, on 08/18/2009, -0/+1I'm with breakerjump on this one. Looks pretty stupid to me.
The only item I would not agree with is the statement that the shopping cart would be sold for scrap metal. If that were true, how is it that current day shopping carts are not sold off? The Homeless seem to be able to hold on to them. - themadrammer, on 08/18/2009, -0/+1Obviously, the Government would GIVE them the cart. That's the point here, to make life easier/simpler/safer for the homeless.
- themadrammer, on 08/18/2009, -0/+1Obviously, these would be handed out at homeless shelters. No one sells shopping carts to the homeless
- themadrammer, on 08/18/2009, -0/+1Yeah, you should donate more money so the Homeless can have a better place to sleep at night and wouldn't need to steal your booze.
- Sonic84, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1trust me I would love to stop selling alcohol. unfortunately corporate feels differently about the matter.
- Himself, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1next design contest: mobile psychiatric center for the homeless
- osbjmg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Tent deploid" - ?
- danr1357, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1dugg for being bizzaro world
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4your missing nothing. those people are filthy, humans are just dirty creatures all round.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Anyone else notice that they spelled "deployed" as deploid?
- graizur, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2My friend is trying to design a bike with an attatched box to live in. More Mobile.
- caseypearson, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I like how they did the ad in a "mac" format. Reflection and all!!!
- futureb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0reminds me of the corporate response to malnutrition: spend billions of dollars genetically engineering rice with more vitiamins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_rice
the real solution (an all-around healthy diet) is too complex. and plus, you can't patent it!!! - stephenwq, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Your mad right? stop selling booze?
Your username suits. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Nah, it doesn't have a mail box!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0It's easier for her to pull from the front. Lets her put more in faster!
- Araya213, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Wow, what a great idea! Who has time to solve our economic crisis anyway? We might want to all invest in one of these right now before our jobs get outsourced!
- geek6oy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Won't be getting any awards for spelling! (deploid ?!?)
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