WINCHESTER — Donald Stevens’ biggest fear when he’s in Haiti is getting in a car crash.

He left for his 25th trip to the politically torn and earthquake-shaken country Monday, and he’ll be there for the second anniversary of one of the most devastating natural disasters in history.

“People have been living in tents — they’ve been camping for two years,” he said with awe, explaining the turmoil still experienced by Haitians across their homeland.

The poverty and disorganization there is often unfathomable for Americans, he noted. In the event of a severe crash, he knows he wouldn’t be able to make it to a hospital with the proper supplies in time.

He visited the county three weeks after the 7.0-magnitude left hundreds of thousands dead and even more homeless on Jan. 12, 2010.

“It was sort of like my computer crashing — it just crashed,” he said. “For almost six months, it was just chaos.”

Stevens’ company, Shelter2Home Inc., based in Winchester, had been setting up shop in the country for almost a year before the earthquake hit. He hired 65 Haitian workers to build houses for the working poor, who are often being financially supported by foreign aid organizations, and other projects for the commercial sector.

“Haiti needs jobs,” he said. “They don’t need any more handouts or Band-Aids. It’s not about bringing Americans down and solving Haiti’s problems.”

The company received a $225,000 grant from Cross International, a Miami-based nonprofit, to train young people from the Pwoje Espwa Sud Orphanage. Stevens spoke highly of one young man, Jocelyn Nelson, who he calls, “ti-boss.”

“Eventually, he has the ability to take a management position,” Stevens said.

With an architectural degree and a background as a professional builder, Stevens said he eventually “got tired of building wooden houses.” He designed a concept of a emergency/transitional steel shelter that could be converted into a permanent home.

The design includes a galvanized, panelized steel frame, easily transported in pieces in a truck bed and assembled in less than a day, that could serve as a tent during an emergency. Afterward, however, about 12 inches of concrete would permanently glue the frame in place and a stucco siding could finish it off.

Stevens said no one else has employed the concept.

“There’s nothing wrong with the system, except that nobody knows about it,” he said.

And once aid organizations and the Haitian people learned about its effectiveness, business took off.

The company has built orphan housing and 10 private homes and is currently building 40 more, as well as a 12-classroom school and another school and chapel.

Stevens hopes to eventually sell the Haitian branch of Shelter2Home Inc., Shelter2Home-Haiti S.A., to a Haitian partner. He remains hopeful for the county’s future. “I think Haiti is starting to turn the corner,” he said. “However, it’s a pretty large corner.”

S2H-HAITI is also working to help Haiti rebuild better than before, offering Emergency/Transitional Shelters, Progressive Housing solutions, and building components that can be used to create low-cost to luxury housing, medical clinics, schools, warehouses and buildings up to four stories.

Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook to get the latest project updates and progress.

From all of us at Shelter2Home, Happy Holidays!

Greg Demski
VP of Sales & Marketing

Winchester, Virginia – SHELTER2HOME, LLC is pleased to announce that its subsidiary SHELTER2HOME-HAITI, SA (S2H-HAITI) has completed construction on Luckenbach/Zeigleman Architect House. The Haitian Government hosted the “Build Back Better Communities” (BBBC) Exemplar Housing Exposition at Z’Oranje, Haiti (a Port-au-Prince suburb). The Exposition hosted projects with a variety of building techniques including everything from traditional concealed masonry and low technology homes built from tires packed with dirt, to various high tech foam and mesh technologies and tube steel structures of all different shapes and sizes. Luckenbach/Ziegelman’s model featured rigid frame construction. Shelter2Home provided the wall panel system and facilitated construction on-site.

Work is progressing on the Baptist Foyer Divine Ecole in Dufort, Leogane, Haiti. The school was badly damaged in the January 2010 earthquake. For the last year, school has been taught under the shade of tarps. The new compound was funded by Cross International and was designed and is being built by Shelter2Home. The compound consisits of an Administrative Building, two five-Classroom Buildings, a Bathroom Facility and a Multipurpose Facility that houses a Dining Hall with a Kitchen and Storage, as well as two additional Classrooms.

S2H-HAITI offers a variety of building technology: Emergency/Transitional Shelters, Progressive Housing solutions, and building components that can be used to create low-cost to luxury housing, medical clinics, schools, warehouses and buildings up to four stories. S2H-HAITI is also currently building an orphanage for forty-five children near Peguy-Ville. Homes for orphaned children were recently completed in Meyotte and Torbeck, Haiti – housing more than seventy-five children. S2H-HAITI is currently developing a 500 home housing project for the working middle class on twenty-five acres of land near Route #9 and National #1. One, two and three bedroom homes will be offered with water, sewer and electric.

S2H-HAITI is committed to the philosophy that their role in Haiti is to provide a hand-up, not a hand-out, and ultimately contribute to the sustainability of the country by addressing the triple bottom line; the measure of economic, ecological, and social success. It is for this reason that they are locating their first manufacturing facility in Haiti, and are helping to contribute to the local economy through the training and employment of Haitian youth.

Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook to get the latest project updates and progress

Winchester, Virginia – SHELTER2HOME, LLC is pleased to announce that its subsidiary SHELTER2HOME-HAITI, SA (S2H-HAITI) has completed construction on the first of three schools currently under construction in Haiti. This three room school and Restavec Center was funded by Cross International. It is located in the town of Gressier, about an hours drive west of Port-au-Prince. Teachers and students are excited to use the space. They have started decorating the walls with murals and were using the facility before construction was completed. The school is noticibly cooler than the church and the classical school on site. This was accomplished by the installation of Shelter2Home’s thermal-reflective, barrier insulation, increased ventilation and natural and fluorescent lighting.

We are excited to announce that Greg Demski has joined Shelter2Home as the new VP of Sales & Marketing. Greg has over 30 years of sales, sales management and sales training experience. He has worked in the service industry, real estate and advertising. Greg resides in Stephens City, VA with his wife, Becky and his children, Michelle, Joseph and Daniel. He is anxious to be of service to our existing and new customers alike. Please contact Greg if there is anything we can do for you.

S2H-HAITI offers a variety of building technology: Emergency/Transitional Shelters, Progressive Housing solutions, and building components that can be used to create low-cost to luxury housing, medical clinics, schools, warehouses and buildings up to four stories. S2H-HAITI is currently building fifty (50) houses for displaced families near Les Cayes, two schools, one in Gressier and one in Dufort, and an orphanage for forty-five children near Peguy-Ville. Homes for orphaned children were recently completed in Meyotte and Torbeck, Haiti – housing more than seventy-five children. S2H-HAITI is currently developing a 500 home housing project for the working middle class on twenty-five acres of land near Route #9 and National #1. One, two and three bedroom homes will be offered with water, sewer and electric.

S2H-HAITI is committed to the philosophy that their role in Haiti is to provide a hand-up, not a hand-out, and ultimately contribute to the sustainability of the country by addressing the triple bottom line; the measure of economic, ecological, and social success. It is for this reason that they are locating their first manufacturing facility in Haiti, and are helping to contribute to the local economy through the training and employment of Haitian youth.

Winchester, Virginia – SHELTER2HOME, INC is pleased to announce that its subsidiary SHELTER2HOME-HAITI, SA (S2H-HAITI) has begun construction of their demonstration home for the Build Back Better Communities (BBBC) Exemplar Housing Exposition at Z’Oranje, Haiti (a Port-au-Prince suburb).

The Exposition, which is being managed by the Haitian Ministry of Tourism, is hosting projects with a variety of building techniques including everything from traditional concealed masonry and low technology homes built from tires packed with dirt, to various high tech foam and mesh technologies and tube steel structures of all different shapes and sizes. SHELTER2HOME’s Building Process is a highly anticipated building technique on the Exposition site as it offers homes that are highly earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire and termite resistant while being environmentally friendly since it uses recycled materials in its component manufacturing.

S2H-HAITI is exhibiting a modified version of our TYPE 3 Progressive Housing Model, which includes the Utility Group – see Permanent Housing Transition. Regular updates on the progress of the Exposition will be posted on our blog.

S2H-HAITI is committed to the philosophy that their role in Haiti is to provide a hand-up, not a hand-out, and ultimately contribute to the sustainability of the country by addressing the triple bottom line; the measure of economic, ecological, and social success. It is for this reason that they are locating their first manufacturing facility in Haiti, and are helping to contribute to the local economy through the training and employment of Haitian youth.

S2H-HAITI offers a variety of building technology: Emergency/Transitional Shelters, Progressive Housing solutions, and building components that can be used to create low-cost to luxury housing, medical clinics, schools, warehouses and buildings up to four stories. S2H-HAITI is currently building fifty (50) houses for displaced families near Les Cayes, two schools in Gressier and Dufort and an orphanage for forty-five children near Peguy-Ville. Homes for orphaned children were recently completed in Meyotte and Torbeck, Haiti – housing more than seventy-five children. S2H-HAITI is under contract to build a two-story Medical Facility in Cavaillon and currently developing a 500 home housing project for the working middle class on twenty-five acres of land near Route #9 and National #1. One, two and three bedroom homes will be offered with water, sewer and electric.

Sincerely,
Donald Stevens
President

Winchester, Virginia – SHELTER2HOME-HAITI, SA (S2H-HAITI) Founder and President Donald Stevens met President Elect Michel Martelly at the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC last night at a private reception being sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti (AMCHAM-HAITI). S2H-HAITI is an active member at AMCHAM-HAITI.

After President Elect Martelly spoke about his plans to promote business, job creation, and the reconstruction of the country through joint cooperation with Haitian – American businesses, the floor was opened for questions. Mr. Stevens asked the first question. After briefly introducing himself and his Haitian company, which was incorporated three months before the January earthquake (October 2009), to manufacture highly earthquake and hurricane resistant houses for the working poor, Mr. Stevens asked whether Mr. Martelly’s Government would assist in the approval process for S2H-HAITI’s recently submitted application to the Commission Interministerielle des Investments (CFI) for consideration for Duty Free Franchise on the raw materials that would be needed to be import for the production of housing components at S2H-HAITI’s proposed building manufacturing facility.

President Elect Martelly answered firmly that his Government would do everything to assist S2H-HAITI with the approval process and instructed his Chief of Staff to assist Mr. Stevens over the next few weeks during his transfer into office.

Torbeck, Haiti – SHELTER2HOME-HAITI (S2H-HAITI) has recently begun the construction of 50 new homes for families that have been displaced by the January 12, 2010 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, Haiti and claimed the lives of approximately 250,000 people. The two-room “starter” homes are being funded by CROSS INTERNATIONAL, a non-profit based organization located in Miami, Florida, who operates in 40 countries. The houses are being built in the area surrounding Les Cayes, which is located in the South.

The two-room homes have eight foot high walls on one side and cathedral up to over ten feet to visually increase the amount of space inside. The homes are built so that they can be expanded in the future without structural compromise to the existing structure. Homeowners will be able to purchase materials in country and hire a certified S2H-HAITI Subcontractor/Installer to do the work. The houses have an integrated venting system that allows heat built up in the roof panel to escape keeping the home cool inside. Louvered aluminum windows and a reinforced insulated, steel door with lock and deadbolt provide maximum security to our families. A covered front porch compliments the Haitian culture.

These homes are being built not-for-profit as part of SHELTER2HOME’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program.

Beyond Espwa, Cross International is working with Shelter2Home to provide 50 homes for IDP’s (Internally Displaced Persons) in the Les Cayes community as well as providing for four schools to be designed, manufactured, and built around Port au Prince.

PWOJE ESPWA SUD and Shelter2Home has agreed that orphans graduating from their secondary and vocational schools can be employed under the Shelter2Home Job Training Program and given the opportunity for permanent employment.

Shelter2Home will look to establish partnerships with other orphanages and schools since a large number of workers are required. Considering that students have no predisposed knowledge to real world construction skills, it provides the perfect opportunity to correctly train each worker in both skill and appropriate work ethic.