VETERAN/HOMELESS RE-ENTRY PROGRAM

JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Park Models by law can only have 399 sq’ of living area, however the loft (50’ high) offers sleeping room for 4 to 8 people. These units are mounted on a trailer and classified in the U.S. as recreational vehicles.Steelheart manufactures the units by first making steel frame panels for the walls, floor and roof.

By inserting the studs into EPS (expanded polystyrene foam) the result is superior strength and thermal efficiency. Steel is 5 times lighter and 5 times stronger than conventional stick construction. Most Park Models are made in a manufacturing plant and towed to location with a large truck. Steelheart panels can be placed on a trailer no more than 8’ wide, towed behind a pickup truck, erected within hours and finished on site. It is an ideal franchise opportunity. The erection is quick and easy, and requires no equipment. Finishing can be done by the owner if he/she has the skills, or sub-contracted to local contractors.

Three units can be placed in a 40’ container to serve export markets. They can be mounted on a slab or raised foundation. Since there are no limitations on size, they can be made wider, longer and have two full stories for 2 or 3 bedroom units. Steelheart panels won’t burn, are impervious to termites, mildew or mold, and can withstand hurricane force winds and earthquakes.

No one should be homeless, particularly veterans who have given so much to protect our country, or children who are homeless because of drug or child abuse at home. Steelheart International, a Veteran owned company, offers an easy, affordable solution for those in need of a house or shelter for personal use, while also offering job training and an opportunity for veterans and prisoners re-entering a chance to learn the skills to provide state-of-the-art energy efficient “green” housing and shelters for others. Highlights of the program include:

  • Participants will receive basic training by a qualified contractor on how to make, transport and erect panelized shelters and houses including installing windows and doors so unit is weathertight and can be finished with local labor and materials.
  • Steelheart, with help from Home Depot and Lowes, will offer additional vocational training on all aspects of building a complete house, so the trainee has the ability to offer additional services based on the customer’s demands.
  • Veterans can potentially use GI Loan program to pay for training and acquire a basic house or shelter that can be used for personal use and serve as a model for selling units to others.
  • Steelheart will arrange micro-loans or a line of credit to enable graduates from the program to build Steelheart models for sale to others. Design and engineering for Steelheart models will be provided by Steelheart, as well as the panels and steel chassis.
  • Steelheart will acquire, upgrade and in some cases develop RV and mobile home parks to create captive markets for the products; work with Universities to develop student housing opportunities; and work closely with FEMA for disaster housing.
  • Training will take place at a central plant but also in RV or mobile home parks acquired or developed by Steelheart International so participants have a home or shelter while going through training, tentatively in a home they will erect and build themselves.
  • To help provide affordable housing while creating jobs and economic opportunities for veterans and prisoners re-entering and the homeless in California, the plan would include:
    • Creating second chance villages in approved properties farm or surplus land, or military base.
    • Using the National Guard and/or returning veterans to provide security, as required.
    • Providing job training for Steelheart steel frame, state of the art homes and Park Models.
    • Create dome home villages as model communities that can be replicated elsewhere, here and abroad.
    • Invite others, such as Home Depot, Lowes, culinary schools, et al to also provide education.
    • Offer rehabilitation and treatment for those with substance abuse problems. (Statistically, that would include 66% of the prison population; 33% meet the clinical definition of mental illness.
    • Provide assistance for job placement upon release.

Steelheart International will continue to develop “for-profit” job opportunities for veterans in other areas. That could include manufacturing, sales/marketing, administration, finance or opportunity to train others, both domestically and abroad. The company is seeking grants or development loans to launch a training site and model community.