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Indian Voices • June 2009
Opening the Affordable Housing Door
living conditions for so many
around the world. Icology decided
to apply the skills they have in
with New Green Two by Four business and develop a product
that can change the world,”
by Catarina Toumei
term shelters.
explains Professor Robert Girling of
“When disaster strikes, like during
Sonoma State University’s School of
A small tow trailer carries all the lum-
Hurricane Katrina, and in ‘Tornado
Business and Economics.
ber and supplies needed to construct a
Alley’, these ready- to-assemble struc-
The cost of each home is less
house. Once the ready-to-assemble kit
tures offer immediate shelter,” explains
than $10,000, with standard homes
arrives, the house is built in only a few
Chris Scott, Co-founder of Icology
ranging in size from 96 square feet
hours, by just a few people who have no
Group and inventor of the I Home™.
to 400 square feet. Custom config-
construction experience. The price for
“Icology Group’s vision is to increase
urations and add-ons are available
the complete house is only $10,000. Is
home ownership across the globe and
to increase square footage.
this a new reality in affordable housing?
eradicate sub-standard living condi-
Electricity and plumbing can be
At San Diego’s Earth Day Fair 2009,
tions,” explains Jacky Vel, President and
added on later as the family budget
Icology Group, Inc., unveiled their envi-
Jacky Vey holds the new green key to affordable
Co-founder of Icology Group, Inc.,
allows. Icology Group’s emergency
housing. Now she needs help from you, the commu-
ronmentally-friendly and affordable
based in La Jolla, CA. “This is now possi-
shelters can also be dismantled,
nity to move forward.
home model. Icology Group assembled
ble with our inexpensive, quick-to-
moved and re-assembled once a
their 400 square foot I Home™ in order
assemble shelters and homes”.
longer term recovery plan is established.
hope to be able to raise capital and solve
to demonstrate the speed and ease with
Elizabeth, who is 31 years old, is a
Icology Group is considered one of
social issues more quickly.
which their homes can be built, as well
divorced single mother of five children,
the newest breeds of “social businesses”
“Social Enterprises bring the best of
as to showcase environmentally-friendly
aged three to 16. As a house cleaner she
or “social enterprises,” which are terms
business to philanthropic pursuits,”
aspects of their structures.
makes less than $100 per week, and was
used to characterize businesses that
explains Betsy Densmore, Vice President
This brand new alternative for hous-
desperate for a home for herself and
bring entrepreneurship to ventures that
of The Social Enterprise Institute in
ing was developed by Icology Group in
children. Icology Group teamed up with
have a social mission. It used to be that
Irvine. “In non-profit organizations, top
order to provide permanent housing and
St James Episcopal, and “Youth With A
people who wanted to solve a social
executives spend 60% of their time beg-
emergency shelter for those most in
Mission Homes of Hope” to provide
problem created a charity. However,
ging for money. Chasing donations and
need. The larger of the structures is ideal
housing for the family in Tijuana last
today, many start a company instead.
running fund raising events is not an
for permanent housing of low income
week, dramatically changing the life of
In order to reach their social goals of
effective way to run a business.”
families. Icology Group’s smaller struc-
Elizabeth and her children.
supplying housing alternatives for disas-
“Social Enterprises are growing
ture offers immediate shelter for disaster
“What I really admire about Icology is
ter victims and the impoverished,
because they solve social needs and get
victims. House kits can be shipped or
they are addressing the problem of glob-
Icology Group decided in 2008 to incor-
paid for doing so,” adds Densmore. As a
flown to disaster areas where recovery
al housing issues and the millions of
porate as a for-profit C corporation,
social enterprise, Icology Group and its
agencies such as FEMA or the Red Cross
people who don’t have adequate hous-
while committing all profits to the pur-
investors measure their performance by
can quickly orchestrate the assembly of
ing. Everyone says something needs to
suit of their vision. By setting Icology
social and environmental impact as well
the specialized lumber pieces into short
be done about the poverty and horrible
Group up as a business, the founders
as by profitability.
Seminole Tribe museum earns
national accreditation
NAPLES, FL — The Seminole Tribe of dedicated to preserving, celebrating and
Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum has sharing the culture, lifestyle, arts,
earned national accreditation from the
thoughts and wisdom of the Seminole
American Association of Museums
Tribe and Native Americans.
(AAM).
“I am both honored and proud to
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki (meaning “a place to
have such an achievement bestowed
learn”) is the first tribally governed
upon our Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.
museum in the United States to receive
When the Tribal Council embarked
official certification from the AAM. The
upon this journey it was about more
four-year accreditation process evaluates
than just a seal of approval. It was about
a museum’s ability to meet a national
making sure that our tribal museum was
industry standard of excellence in all
operating under the standards that
aspects of its responsibilities including
governance, staffing, sustainability and
would insure our history and culture
stewardship of the collection entrusted
would be preserved forever. It has been a
to its care, according to a Seminole pre-
long journey, but one that was well
pared statement.
worth it,” Mitchell Cypress, chairman of
The museum is being certified at the
the Seminole Tribe of Florida said in a
same time as the Smithsonian’s National
prepared statement.
Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
The museum is being certified at the
in D.C., said Denise Michaels, Sanderson
same time as the Smithsonian’s National
Strategies Group spokeswoman.
Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, located on in D.C., said Denise Michaels, Sanderson
the Big Cypress reservation in Florida, is Strategies Group spokeswoman.
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Email: rdavis4973@aol.com • Website: blackrosecommunications.com
(619) 234-4753
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