PAO designed community gathering spaces and non-congregate Plugin Houses for people experiencing homelessness at the Esperanza Community in Austin, Texas. The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF), a non-profit, serves the approximately 150 person community by providing humanitarian aid, case management, and employment opportunities. With the completion of the first phase of the upgraded complex, PAO’s work continues to support the expansion of the community to one that will serve 200-300 community members on the seven acre site. 

The Plugin Houses were also built by people that were previously unhoused from Esperanza and Springdale Park Neighbors. The simplicity of the our Plugin House prefabricated building system’s ease of construction made it possible to provided employment opportunities for people lacking skills and training. The entire building process for one unit took as little as one hour to construct. 

100sf Plugin Houses are designed as residences and 240sf versions are for shared facilities such as libraries, food services, and offices for case workers. Two large arched Quonset Hut structures were designed for use as community gathering spaces.

The Plugin House Company, a PAO spinoff, produced and installed the units. For more information visit www.pluginhouse.org