Students at Boise's Sage International School are unveiling their real world solution to the problem of homelessness. It's a case of the next generation unwilling to wait for others to get things done.
What the 10th graders have done is create two permanent shelters for the homeless.
"It’s a big issue, and I see it when I go to lunch, a homeless family. It's a part of my life that I hope to see solved or helped with these projects," says student Gus Marsden.
Since February the 90 students have been working on designing and building these two huts to help the homeless thanks to a grant from the Idaho Stem Action Center
They're learning about social issues that affect their community as well as how to use drafting, design and hands on building skills.
Teacher Guy Falconer says the kids love getting out of the classroom to work on a real world issue.
"I gotta chase them away, yeah. Literally, if they could be here all day they would be,” Falconer says. "It's a chance to ditch the books and ditch things and lets go build with our hands."
In fact, the kids were in charge of finding a location for the homes. They learned about what resources need to be close by and contacted several agencies before the Interfaith Sanctuary agreed to use them.
The occupants will include a couple in one and a single veteran with severe PTSD in the other. The huts are only temporary but could be used to help transition the homeless off the streets.
The huts have a window, a bed, a chemical toilet and electricity. The students have even hooked up solar powered lighting.
Each hut cost around $1,000 to build.
