Mad Housers

Early history (1987–1992)

The Mad Housers first emerged in 1987, founded by graduate students, Michael Connor and Brian Finkel, of Georgia Tech's College of Architecture[1] to address the problem of homelessness in Atlanta.

Based on their research and plans, Connor, Finkel and three other architecture students built the first hut.[2] It was a small 6' by 8' by 6' plywood box "outfitted with a bed and shelves for [the client's] belongings".[3] However, it was dry and kept "out the wind and the rain.[2] This first experiment at housing the homeless was different than their later attempts: they built the house at a particular location and left it there to see what would happen. After two days, someone had claimed the house, moved it to a more concealed location and "reassembled [it] more practically than the prototype".[3] The group no longer builds haphazardly like this though. They "select clients beforehand, making sure they actually want huts and usually getting them to assist in construction".[4] They also try to choose their build sites based on where the homeless already live.[2] The group also became much more efficient in just their first year. They were able to erect a hut in just 20 minutes and began to use salvaged materials to build the huts "cutting the cost from 'the $200 [they] spent on the first hut to $25 to $40 each".[3]

Reception

The newspaper and magazine articles of the late 1980s tended to emphasize the secretive nature of the organization describing them as "guerilla hut-builders",[5] a "secret society of sorts," and having "the air of a fraternity prank".[3] This image of secrecy was in fact an integral component of the organization for the first couple years. One Mad Houser explained in a newspaper article, "secrecy was necessary […] to avoid arrest and prevent the Georgia Department of Transportation […] from tearing them down".[5]

In July 1988, they participated in a demonstration for the homeless at the Democratic National Convention.[5] Since then, they have continued to bring "the plight of the homeless to public attention".[2] Then, in 1990, an hour-long documentary aired on 90 TV stations around the nation dramatizing the Mad Houser's work.[6]

However, the problem with the increasing amount of public exposure was the fact that their work is technically illegal. There have been several occasions when city officials and the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs have torn down huts considering them "infractions of the law".[2] Important city events such as the 1988 Democratic National Convention (and presumably the 1996 Olympics) also created tension between the city and the Mad Housers by clearing out several sites.[7] However, the Mad Housers were able to reach an "informal alliance with local officials and the city police".[2] As one article pointed out, "the mayors seem to have realized these are not normal times. We can't deal in niceties and fine points here".[8]

Phenomenology of the huts

Several articles mention how the clients arrange their personal possessions in their hut with special significance because they did not have that luxury before.[3][9] Having a hut is a transformational experience for the clients.[5]

References
  1. Mad Housers Hut. Design for the Other 90%. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  2. Anderson, Kristine F. "`Mad Housers' Deliver Shelter for the Homeless :[Orange County Edition]. " Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) [Los Angeles, Calif.] 20 Jul 1989,8. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  3. "Raising the Roof to Aid the Homeless." Atlanta Journal Constitution. 15 March 1988: A,16. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  4. "A Holiday for Heroes." Newsweek. 4 July 1988: 34. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  5. Morris, Holly. "Atlanta Group's Tents with Privacy Are Big Hit with Hurricane Victims. " The Atlanta Constitution [Atlanta, Ga.] 1 Oct. 1992,A3. National Newspapers (27). Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  6. Krasner, Mike. "'The Mad Housers' grapples with issue of homelessness :[ALL Edition]. " Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, Mass.] 28 Mar. 1990, D5. ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  7. May, Lee. "Almost Homeless: `Mad Housing' in Atlanta Their volunteer-built shacks are in hidden spots but hut-dwellers fear they are living on borrowed time :[Home Edition]. " Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) [Los Angeles, Calif.] 18 Jun 1990,5. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  8. "Homeless Group Vows too Face Bulldozer." United Press International 25 May 1992: BC Cycle. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  9. Anderson, Kristine F. "A Hut Resident and a Mad Houser Coordinator." The Christian Science Monitor 14 June 1989,13. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

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