​Hemp Sleeper Cabin Innovation Challenge

THE CHALLENGE: A humanitarian and market need exists for fire and mold resistant, eco-insulated, mobile, affordable, easy-to-assemble, and scalable sleeping cabins for emergency shelter and land stewardship.

WHY HEMP INSULATION?

“Hempcrete”, which is made from hemp fiber and minerals is flame and mold resistant and provides eco-insulation for both cold and hot climates. In addition to addressing a current need for affordable, durable, and mobile emergency shelter, this innovation effort supports the development of the United State’s emerging hemp industry, regenerative agriculture practices, resident stewardship programming for healthy soil, water, and air, training for eco-infrastructure jobs, and a network of organizations to support a thriving humanity and planet.

PROJECT GOALS:

• R&D of safe, secure, mobile, and eco-insulated sleeper cabins for emergency shelter, land activation, and/or resident stewardship, that can be either flat packed, built directly on a trailer, and/or be delivered to a location.
  
• The sleeper cabin is to 70 sq ft or greater in total usable floor area, with a bed platform and suitable storage and desk space.
  
• The sleeper cabin must meet CA State building code for such transitional shelter (“Emergency Sleeping Cabins” as outlined in State of CA’s Information Bulletin 2018-05).
  
• Explore and develop partnerships for construction, materials sourcing, regional manufacturing, and distribution of a “sleeper cabin” made with hemp insulation.
  

OUR PROGRESS

• In April 2020, SFHC contracted with Fibershed and HavenEarth Center to fund, design, and construct the first Hemp Sleeper Cabin prototype [MOU]. The prototype was completed in Northern New Mexico in October 2020 .
  

• SFHC contracted with 3 farmer/builders in Colorado and Northern New Mexico to design and build three additional hemp sleeper cabin prototypes in December 2020, with an estimated completion date of May 2021. [View Phase II HSC Prototype MOUs for Rezolana Farms (San Luis, CO), Duck Berry Farms (Paonia, CO) and Loma Linda Pharms (Mora Valley, New Mexico).
  

Arnie Valdez/Rezolana Farm workshop (4/2021)

Hemp decordicator demo at 4/2021 workshop

NEXT STEPS/GET INVOLVED

• Funding partnerships: Seeking $150,000 in funding to source and produce additional Hemp Sleeper Cabins for distribution to municipalities in the Bay Area/CA and New Mexico.
• Supply chain partnerships: Seeking partnerships with hemp cultivators/processors/manufacturers, trailer manufacturers, and solar energy manufacturers/vendors in support of building a supply chain geared towards a thriving humanity and planet.
• Municipal partnerships: Seeking partnerships with municipalities (starting in California and New Mexico) that are interested in building and/or purchasing hemp sleeper cabins as part of their triage/transitional shelter response.

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Contact: E-mail info@saintfrancischallenge.org for more information and media inquiries