(NewsNation) — After learning about the homelessness crisis in his hometown of London, Ontario, an 18-year-old engineering student started to think of ways he could end it.
Ribal Zebian landed on this idea: building modular homes that would provide some form of shelter to support the city’s 1,800 homeless residents.
“It’s not mainly the homeless issue. I’m concerned about the people in the future that will end up facing that problem,” Zebian told Canadian news outlet CTV News. “Because house prices are increasing and increasing and increasing.”
The modular home prototype Zebian has built, and the model he hopes on improving and building more of, is made up of fiberglass panels, has utilities and has a roof made up of a strong plastic that Zebian said should be able to withstand all types of weather year-round.
In May, Zebian plans to live in the modular home he built for a year.
He told CTV that by living in the prototype for a year, he will be able to see the flaws in the design and make corrections for future modular homes he builds. From there, he hopes to work with manufacturers in order to mass produce them.