Shelter 2.0 was started by Bill Young and Robert Bridges, inspired by architecture Professors Larry Sass and Jeremy Edmiston’s work included in the MOMA Home Delivery Project. In 2009 they began prototyping what they thought would be an ideal transitional shelter in hopes of helping with the growing homeless population. After Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010, they felt compelled to help. Despite many setbacks, they shipped and assembled several shelters in Haiti, allowing occupants to get out of the weather and off the ground, creating a more comfortable and healthier alternative to tents often used in relief work. In this spirit, they continue to offer files and plans for free under a creative commons licensing agreement.

Since 2010, the shelter files have been downloaded and assembled worldwide, most notably by a school program in Rochester, New York, where high school students build shelters for the local homeless community. Moving forward, Shelter 2.0 is committed to improving the world and its local community by promoting open innovation in housing and collaborating with efforts in the United States and abroad. Including manufacturing assembled shelters and kits to be used as sheds, tiny houses, and backyard studios, as well as working with municipalities and civic groups to create Maker Spaces that can fabricate shelters for the homeless and offer on-site job training—empowering the homeless and community.