The point of the article was to point out how absolutely horrible is was that people needed to live like this.
My thought when I read the article was oh... what an innovative way to house the homeless. Give them their OWN space that they can decorate and make their own. Make the homes in such a way they can lock it if need be to protect their stuff.
Is it great living?
No.. but it's better than a cardboard box out in the elements.
It gives people a place to stash their stuff.
It gives people an address for resumes and work related issues.
It gives people shelter from the elements.
It is easy to put up and down.
It is easy to clean.
It's a defined area with places to hang out to visit with one's neighbours.
If I was at my wits end and didn't know where to live, would I want to live like this? NO, absolutely not... but if I had no other real options, you bet your boots I would.
Is it nice to share a communal bathroom? No. (better than doing your business on the street or using restaurant bathrooms all the time)
Is it nice to be relegated to sleeping quarters of 2.5 x 4 x 6? Not really (but that is about the size of a good cardboard box).
Is it as good as having your own apartment? Not on your life. Is it better than having rain drip on your head, or wind chill freezing you? You bet your life.
Is there potential for abuse and bad things? Yeah, but you get that anywhere you live or walk or do anything.
If you have no place else to go other than living on the streets? Isn't it good to have this option? I just don't know if it would fly here. But I've seen pictures of shelters where folks get a bed and that's it. No place to really call their own. Just a bed. This has to be better than that don't you think?