California Nonprofit Utilizes Straw to Build Affordable Homes for Low-Income Residents
A California-based nonprofit, Just Places, in collaboration with People First, is addressing the state's housing crisis by constructing homes using straw bales. This method, which dates back centuries, is being employed to create affordable housing in Santa Cruz County, where the median home price is $1.95 million. The initiative aims to provide permanent, eco-friendly housing for individuals transitioning out of homelessness. The project involves building a 'straw bale village' on the land of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, replacing uninhabitable cabins with six tiny homes and several studio apartments. The homes will be LEED-certified and solar-powered, with construction expected to take four to six months once funding is secured. 
