Good Samaritan Turns Old School Buses Into Homes For Working Homeless Families

Sep 09, 2019

One man’s junk is another’s treasure. This is exactly what happened when a journalist  turned old school buses into a home for the homeless.

Julie Akins started her journey towards helping the homeless in 2016. She found families using old and run-down school buses as homes. However, these buses were hardly livable. They didn’t have a toilet or a kitchen or a shower. Julie wondered if there was a solution for this. Because of safety reasons, school buses are retired after 12 years. However, these buses have about 20 more good years in them.

If these buses were fixed up, families would not only have a home, but they would also have transportation to get to work. They could potentially get better jobs if they simply had transportation.

Julie set out to make a living space that was comfortable and functional. She wanted to use a school bus and create a home with a sleeping space, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Nine months later, she got in contact with a family in need. David Flood and his wife along with their three children were living in hard times. The substitute teacher lost his home in 2018 and they were all living in a campground.

The bus made a huge difference for him and his family. It allowed them to breathe and make the money they had coming in go further. Alex Daniell, who used to design tiny houses for the homeless, took notice of Julie’s work. He decided to join her project. These homes are 240 square feet and very safe. The bus solution is fast and economical because it works on an already existing frame

As of now, Julie has the resources to be able to create one of these homes every year, but she would like to do more. She wants to raise more money and awareness to be able to make more. It is important not only for the adults to get back on their feet but to also help kids grow up in a healthy environment. 

Julie’s end goal is to create five buses every year to help as many people as she possibly can.

What do you think about this story? Are you supporting the homeless community in your area? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to others!