California Resilient Housing Initiative: 3D-Printed Housing Pilot Program

Program Overview

The California Resilient Housing Initiative aims to develop a scalable 3D-printed housing solution to address homelessness and disaster recovery needs. This pilot program will focus on building sustainable, fire-resistant homes in key regions affected by homelessness and recent wildfires, with an emphasis on affordability, safety, and innovation.

Program Goals

·         Rapid Housing Development: Build temporary and permanent homes faster and at a lower cost.

·         Disaster Recovery: Support wildfire-affected areas with fire-resistant housing.

·         Regulatory Modernization: Test and refine building codes to facilitate future 3D-printed housing projects.

·         Public-Private Collaboration: Partner with 3D-printing innovators, non-profits, and state agencies to foster sustainable growth.

Pilot Program Components

Site Selection

·         Urban Areas: Identify cities with high homelessness rates, such as Los Angeles and Oakland.

·         Disaster Zones: Select towns recovering from recent wildfires, such as Paradise or Greenville.

·         Public Land Use: Leverage underutilized state-owned land or vacant lots for building the housing communities.

2. Construction Approach

    Types of Housing:

·         Tiny homes for temporary use (200–400 sq. ft.).

·         Permanent small family homes (600–900 sq. ft.) to support long-term residents.

    Sustainability Features: Solar panels, water recycling, and efficient insulation.

Resilient Design: Fire-resistant concrete, defensible space, and smart layouts to prevent fire spread.

3. Regulatory Task Force

·         Form a Housing Review Board: comprising architects, engineers, state regulators, and safety experts.

·         Tasked with reviewing zoning, permitting, and building code requirements to recommend streamlined regulations.

·         Coordinate with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for approvals.

·         Offer review and improvement opportunities to zoning regulations to insure more effective use of code.

4. Support Services Integration

    Collaborate with local non-profits to provide essential services:

·         Job training and employment placement

·         Access to mental health counseling and addiction treatment

·         Case management to help residents transition to permanent housing

5. Partnerships and Collaboration

·         Partner with 3D-printing companies: for expertise, equipment, and cost-sharing.

·         Local Construction Workers: Integrate traditional builders to create hybrid job opportunities, ensuring that job displacement is avoided.

·         Academic Partners: Work with universities (e.g., UC Berkeley’s architecture and engineering departments) to collect data and analyze the impact.

6. Public Engagement and Education

·         Host community open houses to showcase model homes and build public support.

·         Provide transparency through progress reports, costs, and testimonials.

Budget and Funding

Initial Budget Estimate:

    $20 million to build and study 100–200 homes over 2-3 sites.

Funding Sources:

·         State and federal grants for disaster recovery and homelessness prevention.

·         Partnerships with private donors and philanthropies.

·         Incentives for companies providing discounted 3D-printing materials.

Pilot Program Timeline

    Phase 1 – Planning (6 Months):

·         Identify pilot sites and partners

·         Form the 3D-Printed Housing Review Board

Phase 2 – Construction (12 Months):

·         Build the first round of homes and gather resident feedback

·         Ensure utilities and support services are fully integrated

Phase 3 – Evaluation (6 Months):

·         Conduct audits and collect performance data (e.g., cost savings, build times, resident outcomes)

·         Publish findings to inform future statewide expansion