Episode 104
The Rose Project, Container Homes: A Lifeline for Domestic Violence Survivors
Chloe Millard from BoxedLuxe Homes expounds upon the pressing issue of domestic violence and introduces the Rose Project, an innovative initiative aimed at providing safe havens for women and children escaping abusive situations. This project seeks to utilize container homes as temporary shelters, offering a secure environment that fosters community support. Each container is designed to house an entire family while also facilitating access to essential services and resources necessary for recovery and reintegration into society. Throughout our dialogue, we delve into the multifaceted challenges faced by survivors of domestic violence, particularly in affluent communities where the issue often remains obscured. We invite you to join us as we explore this pivotal topic and the transformative potential of container living, advancing toward a more sustainable and compassionate future.
The dialogue presented in Boxcar Universe reveals an extensive exploration of the concept of container homes, with a particular emphasis on the innovative strides being made by Chloe Millard of BoxedLuxe Homes. In this profound discussion, we delve into the multifaceted applications of container living, examining its potential to serve as a sustainable housing solution, particularly for vulnerable populations such as survivors of domestic violence. Chloe passionately articulates the inspiration behind her initiative, aptly named the Rose Project, which aims to provide safe havens for women and children escaping abusive situations. This project seeks to dismantle the misconception that affluent communities are free from such crises, highlighting the often-silent struggles faced by women in these environments. By utilizing containers, Chloe envisions a community-oriented approach that fosters safety, accessibility, and empowerment, allowing these women to regain control over their lives while simultaneously connecting them to essential services and support networks.
Furthermore, the conversation transitions to the broader implications of such housing solutions, particularly regarding their relevance to homeless veterans. The parallels between the struggles of domestic violence survivors and veterans returning to civilian life are poignantly drawn, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support systems that address the unique challenges faced by these individuals. As we navigate through the complexities of societal reintegration and the urgent demand for affordable housing, Chloe's insights offer a refreshing perspective that transcends conventional narratives surrounding both container homes and the populations they can serve. The episode concludes with an invitation for continued dialogue and advocacy, urging listeners to consider the profound impact of innovative housing solutions on the fabric of our communities.
Takeaways:
- The Boxcar Universe podcast explores innovative living solutions, including container homes and creative spaces.
- Chloe Millard discusses her Rose Project, which provides safe housing for domestic violence survivors.
- Container homes are not only sustainable but also serve as a means to empower vulnerable populations.
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of community support for individuals transitioning from crisis to stability.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- BoxedLuxe Homes
- Ideal Home Improvement, LLC.
- Legacy Custom Homes AZ., LLC.
- Mr. Electric of Phoenix Metro
- I Foam
- Gary Sinise Foundation
- Tunnel to Towers
Transcript
Welcome back to Boxcar Universe, the show where we explore everything from container homes to creative living spaces and the people that make it all happen.
Speaker A:I'm your host, Steve Dubel, Arizona's favorite general contractor and renovation visionary.
Speaker A:Today we're diving into part two of our inspiring conversation with Chloe Millard from Boxlux Homes.
Speaker A:If you caught part one, you already know that Chloe brings a fresh and luxurious perspective to the world of a container living.
Speaker A:And trust me, she's just getting started.
Speaker A:So settle in and let's continue the journey with Chloe and Boxlux Holmes right here on Boxcar Universe.
Speaker A:Let's get started.
Speaker B:Since the dawn of time, mankind has searched for ways to shelter themselves from the elements.
Speaker B:Over the centuries, these shelters have evolved from bamboo huts to concrete towers.
Speaker B:The last few years, there's been a push to save the planet.
Speaker B:Are you ready to embark on a more sustainable lifestyle?
Speaker B:Look no further.
Speaker B:You're about to enter the adventures of container home living.
Speaker B:And now, contractor, radio and TV personality and your host for Boxcar Universe, Steve Dubel.
Speaker C:Foreign.
Speaker D:I am here with Chloe Millard from Box Luxe Homes and we are talking about the different uses of containers and multi container uses for residential homes and community development.
Speaker D:And one of the projects I want to talk to Chloe about is her rose project and the housing solutions for domestic violence survivors.
Speaker D:Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:So this is a passionate project that is very near and dear to my heart.
Speaker C:So over the last few years, my eyes have really, really been open to a pretty big crisis that I've seen more often than not is silent.
Speaker C:And it's something that like right now, for example, on average, women will experience domestic violence.
Speaker C:Like one out of every three women will go through it at least once in their lives.
Speaker C:And I mean, this can look like anywhere from financial abuse to emotional abuse to physical abuse.
Speaker C:And when it involves kids, it gets really, really nasty.
Speaker C:So something that we've seen and we've noticed is especially in affluent communities, for example, our builds are luxury.
Speaker C:We market affordable luxury.
Speaker C:So we specialize in affluent marketing.
Speaker C:I've seen these trends.
Speaker C:Be honestly, it scared me as a woman because people think that when you are in an affluent community or you think about the top 1% of people, they kind of look at the whole family and you know, it's seen as like, oh, must be nice, right?
Speaker C:Like you have everything, you know, your life must be perfect.
Speaker C:But that tends to be where women get abused the most because it's a lot of, you know, kind of white collar executives or just men with Power that women end up being abused in their marriage and they have nowhere to go.
Speaker C:And especially with young children, it's hard to go to a homeless shelter when you're a woman in that position, because you have all the means financially, but they're not yours.
Speaker C:And so I have just heard story after story after story that women that are trapped in that situation, they can't leave because they really have nowhere to go.
Speaker C:They can't tell anyone because they're often very, very connected in a community.
Speaker C:So it just becomes this very, very toxic and sometimes deadly situation for a lot of women.
Speaker C:So we came up with the concept, the Rose Project after kind of working closely with so many women and just seeing, like, outpouring need from churches and from women's shelters and groups.
Speaker C:And the whole concept is the Rose Project essentially is a safe haven for women and children of domestic violence.
Speaker C:And the idea is that each container can house an entire family.
Speaker C:And because these can be fully sustainable, they are able to go off the grid, which means that we would work with local churches, and anytime a woman came in needing help or services, they could simply give her, like, a card with the location on it or, you know, an assistant they work with.
Speaker C:And we have the.
Speaker C:The actual.
Speaker C:I don't want to call it like a bunker, but it's really like.
Speaker C:It's a secured location that is comprised of five containers.
Speaker C:So there are.
Speaker C:It's in the shape of a cross, and the Rose Project is part of our logo.
Speaker C:But each container that houses a family will face on the outside, forming the cross, and they're all joined in the middle by a communal container.
Speaker C:And the idea behind that is when you are going through this situation, it's very scary.
Speaker C:You're very alone.
Speaker C:And especially if you're a mother, you really, really need to feel like you have a community and you have someone there to watch your kids or play with your kids.
Speaker C:You can focus and make an escape plan to get out.
Speaker C:And so building these with containers, I created the entire nonprofit focus to where everybody wins, because I know what investors are looking for when they want to put their money somewhere.
Speaker C:I know what huge businesses are looking for, and they want to donate to a nonprofit and charity.
Speaker C:So we have it structured to where all of these containers can be completely paid for and sustained.
Speaker C:And it all makes companies money, because when a woman comes into this, she's not looking for a place to stay long term.
Speaker C:Typically, these women, they have access to means and capital, but they need to litigate for it.
Speaker C:It's, you know, with Their husband and they, they need time just to safely get attorneys and things situated.
Speaker C:So we would almost use these safe havens as the launch pad to connect these women to all of these vital services in that local community.
Speaker C:So think of the advertising and marketing for those businesses, but it's also social good.
Speaker C:Like everything they put into the project.
Speaker C:For examp business was going to sponsor a container for $1,000 a month.
Speaker C:They could literally pay for everything multiple women, children, families need going through that to power the, the electric to which we would use solar panels, but still paying the cost to power and maintain the units and just collecting donations for food and all of that.
Speaker C:You're able to connect these women with lawyers, the phone companies, banks, like all these things that they need to start a new life.
Speaker C:And that is so valuable because the customer loyalty they get from meeting a woman or a new customer at that part in her life cycle, she's going to be with them forever.
Speaker C:So it really is like this.
Speaker C:Everyone wins in this concept.
Speaker C:But the whole idea is that you're giving a woman and her children, whether it's a night or a week, like literally a safe haven to stay in.
Speaker C:And using it out of single containers, you can build them fast, you can build them cheap and easy, and at the same time they still will look beautiful because that's the thing.
Speaker C:Like, you don't have to make it look dark and depressing and make it look like a container, but when it's quote unquote off the grid, that's a way that a woman can get there without being tracked because it doesn't need to plug into city sewer or power or anything.
Speaker C:You can completely have everything remote.
Speaker C:So, yeah, I know that was a very, very long intro, but it's something I'm super passionate about.
Speaker C:And there's a lot of moving pieces and parts, but you can put it anywhere in the country.
Speaker C:And our mission would be to target those affluent areas because it's a short term solution for women.
Speaker C:But it's also, like I said, a huge way for them to get connected with all the local business that they need to start over.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:Yeah, and it can be used for anything.
Speaker C:We've consulted on tons of nonprofit work because containers can literally do anything for a lot of these charities.
Speaker D:Hang tight.
Speaker D:We'll be right back.
Speaker D:You're listening to Boxcar Universe.
Speaker E:Looking to transform your space.
Speaker E:With over 30 years of construction experience and featured on radio and TV, ideal home improvement and legacy custom homes, AZ does it all from repairs, remodeling and restorations to new builds, container homes and container pools, plus cutting edge solar systems to help homeowners save money on their utility bills.
Speaker E:Hi, I'm Steve Dubell.
Speaker E:Let us help you design and build your dream home with the expertise that comes from decades of experience in the business.
Speaker E: -: Speaker E:Remember Ideal Home Improvement and Legacy Custom homes AZ where your dream home becomes reality.
Speaker E:Don't wait.
Speaker E:Call today.
Speaker F:Hello, my name is Sean with Mr.
Speaker F:Electric and I have a safety tip for you today.
Speaker F:Aluminum wiring.
Speaker F:If you have warm receptacles or maybe even receptacles that only work sometimes, and maybe even a small smoke trail that comes up from the top of your outlet, this may indicate that you have aluminum wiring in your house.
Speaker F: shows that homes built before: Speaker F:The problem is the connection of the aluminum wire to copper devices or wiring.
Speaker F:When aluminum and copper come together, the result over time is oxidization, rust and over time this condition creates resistance to the flow of electricity causing the connections to overheat.
Speaker F:The longer the time goes, the worse this condition gets.
Speaker F:If you have aluminum wiring, bring in a licensed electrician to educate you on the use of AFCI breakers which sense electrical arcs and also Consumer Products Safety Commission approved methods of connectors to greatly improve the quality of the aluminum connections in your home.
Speaker F:Remember, at Mr.
Speaker F:Electric we are just a phone call or a click away.
Speaker F: -: Speaker F:Electric we have the power to make things better.
Speaker G:Improve your home's energy efficiency by calling I Foam your comfort and efficiency insulators.
Speaker G:They are the premier foam and batt insulation specialists serving Phoenix's residential and commercial community.
Speaker G:As a proud sponsor of Boxcar Universe and part of the Ideal Energy team, I Foam is here to keep your home or business cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter and save you money all year long.
Speaker G:Our advanced insulation solutions seal every crack and crevice for maximum comfort and energy savings.
Speaker G: -: Speaker D:All right, and we are back.
Speaker D:And you're listening to Boxcar Universe right here from the beautiful and palacious Boxcar Studios here in Phoenix, Arizona.
Speaker D:You know, the.
Speaker D:The analogy of what your mission is with the Rose Project, and one that I am sensitive to, is creating container homes for homeless veterans.
Speaker D:And when you think about the women that seek out help, it's similar to the veterans that come to, you know, back home and they are seeking help.
Speaker D:They need to be reintegrated into society because they've led that military life for so long.
Speaker D:And a lot of times, you know, if the, if these veterans come back, if they don't have family to go back to, or if they don't have maybe the means to be able to go and buy a home or live on their own, they need government assistance to be able to do this.
Speaker D:The problem is, until late, there are some great organizations out there that help homeless veterans in building traditional homes, like the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Speaker D:Tunnel Tunnel to tunnel to towers.
Speaker D:Does it.
Speaker D:Those, those organizations, they are instrumental in helping them back.
Speaker D:But building container home communities, much like the gentleman who I had on my show about a year and a half ago in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he can go back out and rally investors and rally the community to be able to go out and find locations and get donations and people that want to sponsor this whole project so that he can actually build container homes for, you know, homecoming for all these homeless veterans.
Speaker D:Because if they didn't have them there, they would be homeless.
Speaker D:And a lot of, you know, when I go see on the street in Phoenix, you see a lot of people out there.
Speaker D:You know, it's.
Speaker D:It's.
Speaker D:It's really hard to see people out there on street corners with cardboard signs wanting to, you know, please, you know, give me help, give me anything, you know, or I have kids or I have pets.
Speaker D:And you see pets on the side with these people, too.
Speaker D:I mean, that really hits home for me because I'm a big pet lover.
Speaker D:But they want to be able to go back.
Speaker D:And if you see them and say a homeless vet, I mean, that really hurts.
Speaker D:I mean, why someone who actually goes and fights for our country and puts their life on the line every day for the time that they were in the service to be able to come back into the community and reintegrate should not be homeless.
Speaker D:There's just no way they've given their life, that portion of their life to serve their country.
Speaker D:Well, the country should do something for them.
Speaker D:And these organizations, thank God that they're out there.
Speaker D:But we always want to be able to do more.
Speaker D:And I want to be able to do and rally people and investors around the country that where we could go back and build not just single home communities, but when I say a community, I'm talking about multi types of container homes, singles, two or three put together.
Speaker D:Because sometimes they have, you know, maybe they do want to put a couple of people from.
Speaker D:They came back that are in a family and they all want to live together to be able to do that and have that support mechanism for the, you know, for the, for these military people that have come back into our country.
Speaker D:So I think it's.
Speaker D:And again, talking about the recovery for domestic violence survivors.
Speaker D:Okay.
Speaker D:A lot of military people that come back, they need recovery because they've gone through such traumatic things, being, you know, being fired upon.
Speaker D:You know, you hear a noise, you turn around, you jump.
Speaker D:Because you don't know, you know, you don't know if, if that was somebody firing on you.
Speaker D:I mean, you get a lot of people come back with ptsd.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker C:And you're.
Speaker C:I'm so glad you said that because I feel like people do not understand the weight of what it actually is like to live with ptsd.
Speaker C:It's so debilitating and it's so unpredictable.
Speaker C:Like, it comes on your body and hits you so hard.
Speaker C:And depending like what you suffer from and what your symptoms are, it can make it almost impossible to function.
Speaker C:And I couldn't agree more.
Speaker C:These are men and women that selflessly and bravely served our country.
Speaker C:And that's why with my marketing agency, the most work I've done for nonprofit and charities, it's women and children and veterans.
Speaker C:I, I have such a heart for our veterans.
Speaker C:And that's why I just love your mission so much.
Speaker C:And I, I want to support you in every way that I can because love to build a community for veterans in every major city.
Speaker C:I know you said that's your goal and you want to have it all throughout the country.
Speaker C:And there's so many ways that it can be funded that it can be like, broadcast and done, where every veteran coming back, they can have that as an option.
Speaker C:Like, hey, if you need somewhere to live, we have relationships with these developments, these communities.
Speaker C:Like, I really feel the best thing for veterans is not only giving them those resources, but just having a direct plan.
Speaker C:Because the last thing I would want to think about when I'm coming back from a tour or from serving and all you know how to do is serve now you have to Suddenly learn how to think like a civilian again or start over.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:You're literally starting your life over.
Speaker C:And I just.
Speaker C:I get goosebumps when I think about it, because not only do you have PTSD and nightmares and just like you've seen and witnessed the unthinkable.
Speaker C:And your body, you put your body in fight or flight mode for God knows how long, for years.
Speaker C:Some people are in it, like their careers.
Speaker C:And so your body is operating at this not normal level because you're protecting your country.
Speaker C:And so, yeah, I fully agree that there is not enough being done.
Speaker C:And I live in Dallas, Texas, so down here in Texas, we have some of the largest veteran populations, and there are so many laws that I just.
Speaker C:I feel so sad for our veterans because, I mean, you talk about PTSD and ailments, injuries, things that they suffer from outside of housing.
Speaker C:And not to go on a tangent, but the fact that we don't have things legal here that will help them with that, like medicinal marijuana, just things like this.
Speaker C:And again, not to be political, but the fact that our veterans, I feel, should be given the best access and the first kind of resource that they can have, and they're often not.
Speaker C:And so for me, I'm just a huge, passionate believer in opening up more.
Speaker C:More programs for veterans, definitely more housing for veterans.
Speaker C:Again, same with the Rose Project, like building communities for veterans.
Speaker C:I feel that you can absolutely do that and have an initiative to get one in every major city in the country if we can make it make sense for everyone.
Speaker C:And so that's the thing, like, I don't think you'll ever find someone that will disagree that our veterans are not our heroes and we shouldn't be doing what we can to help them.
Speaker C:And if you do find that person, let's airlift them out of here.
Speaker C:I think people get them out.
Speaker C:But with that being said, and it's the same with my initiative, too, like all nonprofit, you'll find people that have a heart for it, like you.
Speaker C:But when you work with investors or developers, like, they have a million of those projects that people are saying, do this for me.
Speaker C:We want this for free.
Speaker C:And the way to break out from all the noise, it's not to get selfish and greedy and go, oh, no one wants to build these because they're not getting filthy rich.
Speaker C:That's not it at all.
Speaker C:It's like, they're good people, too, that would love to build a development like that, but they also need to feed their kids.
Speaker C:So they're kind of like, if you can make it make sense for me.
Speaker C:I'll lower my cost or I'll throw in something extra or I'll shorten the time.
Speaker C:Like, there's a lot of things that people will be willing to do if it also makes sense for them.
Speaker C:So for a project like this, you mentioned some nonprofits that already build homes for veterans that are supporting them.
Speaker C:And I feel like if those foundations were to get a hold of what you want to do and you had a plan, which I know you have, I'm just saying, like, when you can actually partner with them and say, look like, this is how we're going to build these, with containers, we'll save money on it.
Speaker C:But when we get a veteran in here, when you connect them with other things, other businesses, like, they're going to need a cell phone again, they're going to need a bank account, they're going to need all of these services that it's not, you know, putting them in a bad spot to sign up for it because they need.
Speaker C:They just came back to civilian life.
Speaker C:But for the businesses that are going to earn their business, that becomes super lucrative for them, that becomes a huge advantage where they can donate to like providing housing for veterans.
Speaker C:But in doing so, they're getting lifetime marketing for their products and services.
Speaker C:They know that every veteran that goes into that housing project is going to sign up for their cell phone service or for their banking and even like think getting a mortgage, we have, you know, intro rates for veterans to where you can get a mortgage for your home with no money down.
Speaker C:You can get discounts on building materials.
Speaker C:You have all of these, like, benefits that you can take advantage of.
Speaker C:But it's so complicated to like, for anyone, for someone who didn't go into war and stayed home and studied this every day for months and years even, it's still complicated.
Speaker C:So, so partnering with all of those businesses that want to get those veterans as customers and then giving the veterans like a very laid out plan of, we have a place for you to live, we have a place for you to get everything that you need.
Speaker C:Like, think about, you can partner with Best Buy even and be like, we know you need new appliances, we know you need all this new stuff, and we already went out and pre purchased it for you and you get a discount.
Speaker C:So I could literally, yeah, talk about funding ideas all day long, but I really love your mission and I think that there's a million ways you could do it.
Speaker A:And that wraps up part two of our exclusive interview with Chloe Millard from Boxed luxe homes.
Speaker A:Her vision for luxury container living is truly changing the game.
Speaker A:But don't go too far.
Speaker A:We've got even more to uncover in part three, where Chloe dives deeper into her design process, upcoming projects, and what's next for box luxe homes.
Speaker A:Stay tuned as always and keep living outside the box.
Speaker A:Only on Boxcar Universe.
Speaker B:You're a great American.
Speaker C:I love.
