8A - Solving The Problem

Assignment 8A - Solving the Problem

The opportunity I am pursuing is homelessness in Key West. The tourist-ridden island is very expensive to live in. Because of this, there is a large presence of homeless people in the city.

• My first product would similar to what is being done in Seattle. A program called Tiny Houses (https://lihi.org/tiny-houses/) is going on in Seattle that provides very small (150 sq. ft.) houses for homeless people to live in. They obviously would be better for homeless people than tents, and amenities (laundry rooms, showers, restroom facilities) would be provided in the neighborhoods for these houses. I would create small neighborhoods like this, but in Key West.
• An obvious solution would be to increase affordable housing opportunities for people on the island. However, the lack of space on the 2x1 island makes Tiny Houses a more viable option. 
• Also, when I lived in Key West there was a big push for paper straws, to ridden of the pollution and harm plastic straws cause to the local wildlife. Key West deals with many people and pollution occurs. Perhaps people living in these Tiny Houses can assist in cleaning up the island through work programs. 

I feel that this product is a viable option for helping the homeless people in Key West. The chances of it being approved by the local government are slim to none without the public taking action. However, Key West is a world renowned vacation spot where many upper class people reside and/or visit. Snowbirds are people who own property in Key West that migrate down to the island during the winter to bask in the tropical sun. Whilst I attended high school in Key West, there were many examples of wealthy individuals providing funding for programs for clubs at the school that did have funding from the state. Perhaps if word is spread, someone would be philanthropic enough to help fund this product for the bettering of Key West.