"To pay for itself, the WheelLY could be sponsored by corporations and organizations that put their logo right on the unit."

Because the homeless need to be brand-specific...

"To pay for itself, the WheelLY could be sponsored by corporations and organizations that put their logo right on the unit."

Because corporations really want their brands associated with dirty, stinky, drug-addicted, anti-establishment types...

Why is this better than a tent?

mr. gumsandals, it's better than a tent because instead of being one more backpacksized parcel to strap onto oneself leading to back and other posture related ailments it's a portable shelter as well as a means to store personal belongings.

and i think jerk and erebiel are being too closed minded. these could be for more than bums, refugees and euro backpackers could use these. refugee models could be marked with a relief effort emblem. euro backpackers could probably buy their own.

"and several WheelLYs can connect to one another to form a larger space. "

Wow a Habitrail for Hobo's what an inovation. We could even attach a giant wheel so that the homeless could get buff. Whats next a giant anf farm so they can dig out holes to live in?

I think before designers try to design something for homeless people (and it's something that does periodically arise)...

... they should try being homeless themselves for a week or so... or maybe even just a couple of nights.

The trouble with this thing is that you'd never stop being hassled. The police would be constantly moving you on and you'd be an instant target for other homeless people who think you've got something that they need.

There's this weird thing about being homeless - you become invisible... but not to the people that you really really need to become invisible to.

That really is quite 'unwieldy'. I can't imagine wanting to roll that thing around with me. I could see this working well for refugees, but not for the general homeless population of developed nations. I think Nick T. hit it spot on otherwise.

I was homeless when I was kicked out of the house by my mom at age 17. Believe me, this is more of a hassle to have to push around. I think it's better to encourage the homeless to stay in a shelter and get jobs and get back on their feet instead of encouraging them to push this monstrosity around all day.

Believe me, offering free tents to the homeless is a lot better.

Hey there are a lot of stinky, dirty, drug addicted, anti-establishment people who work and aren't homeless. Besides with the way the economy and mortgage crisis are, you never know how many "normal" American families may need something like this to camp in a friends yard. Don't know innovation.

XANAPUS: “I think it's better to encourage the homeless to stay in a shelter and get jobs and get back on their feet…”
I think this is exactly what the WheelLY project does!
“ during the day Wheelly can be easily converted into a seat or a stall too…” for busking
“giving not only a shelter in a cart, but even an chance of reintegration”
“the cart become a protected and intimate shelter with an insulated sleeping space…”
(as written on the zo-loft website)

PAKO: I agree with you. A part from showing who helped into production, messages on the cart could be a good chance to get some plus money too. Everyone could choose and pay to write something on it, NOT ONLY Companies or NGO. I could choose to write something on it too.

JERK and EREBIEL: have a look here www.edar.org/contribute.html

TO ALL: What about the EDAR PROJECT currently in use in LA?
They provide shelter in a cart and it has logos on it, but i think the WheelLY looks more confortable and easy. Much better on usage and caring to a lot of daily life needs.

I can see this being viable in large metropolitan areas that are more or less flat, like southeastern Florida.
But I do not see it being at all popular in places like the San Francisco Bay Area with all its hills.
Also what are you supposed to do with it while you are in the soup kitchen or on the bread line.Will they have specially designed parking lots for these things so people can leave them for an hour or two.
I don't think the library will let them bring them in.

1940s thinking but wouldn't a backpack WWII Army tent be cheaper to produce and easier to carry???

Plus, if they have a shelter can you truly call them HOMELESS????

I recently found this on the internet: www.edar.org which is similar to this but looks like a shopping cart but when opened it looks like a tent. It costs $500 to make and the website asks for people to sponsor by donating the money so they can produce more of these for the homeless. The EDAR looks a lot easiler to cart around than this round wheely does.