Sometimes all it takes is a little prayer to help find a solution to a big problem. Case in point- a modular home factory answered an affordable housing prayer in Oklahoma City.
all photos – CCAOKC
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City (CCAOKC) has partnered with Boxabl, a Las Vegas-based company specializing in prefabricated housing solutions, to tackle the region’s affordable housing shortage with an innovative project called “Caritas Casitas.” This initiative features a pocket neighborhood of 12 modular homes designed to foster community while maintaining personal privacy.
The project highlights the capabilities of Boxabl’s Casitas, a revolutionary 375-square-foot unit that comes fully equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, washer/dryer, and heating and air conditioning. The homes are designed for rapid assembly, making them an ideal solution for communities in need of quick and cost-effective housing.
Boxabl has made headlines in the prefabrication industry with its unique folding technology, which allows its Casitas to be shipped compactly and then easily unfolded and installed on-site. The company’s mission is to make high-quality housing accessible and affordable by leveraging mass production techniques typically found in manufacturing sectors like automotive and aerospace. The homes can be installed within hours, a significant advantage over traditional construction methods that can take months. Starting at a price point of $60,000, Boxabl’s Casitas offer a sustainable and scalable option for affordable housing developments.
Community members tour a housing unit at “Caritas Casitas” in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024
Boxabl’s Casitas are engineered for versatility, making them suitable not just for residential use but also for various applications like disaster relief and workforce housing. Their plug-and-play design ensures that the units arrive ready to connect to standard utilities such as water, electricity, and sewage. On its website, Boxabl describes the Casitas as being “designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind,” emphasizing that the units can be installed much faster than traditional homes while maintaining durability and comfort.
For Catholic Charities, the collaboration with Boxabl is a strategic move to address the pressing need for affordable housing in Oklahoma. CCAOKC’s Director of Housing, Yolanda Worth, notes that rising housing costs have created significant challenges for low-income residents. Through this pilot project, the charity aims to maintain lower construction costs and speed up development times to provide viable rental options for those in need. The Caritas Casitas neighborhood, set to serve as affordable rental housing for at least 20 years, is a testament to the potential of modular homes in meeting both social and economic challenges.
As this partnership develops, it could serve as a model for other organizations and municipalities looking to leverage prefabricated housing technology to address housing shortages. The combination of Boxabl’s cutting-edge approach and Catholic Charities’ community-driven mission highlights the potential for innovation in providing dignified, affordable housing solutions at scale.
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