Why Shelter? - Every Shelter

Why Shelter?

On average, refugees are away from “home” for decades. Home changes everything for refugees.

The Status Quo is failing.

120 million people are displaced. The World Bank predicts that it will increase to 240 million people by 2050. Many will stay displaced for over two decades on average.

1 in every 78 people has been forced to leave home. (UNHCR) Millions live in isolated fields without access to many of their essential needs. Many wish they had more choices and to work to provide more opportunities for themselves and their kids.

We are working to reconfigure the refugee-aid system.

The Current State Today

The global aid system for displaced people, structured more than 70 years ago to accommodate the needs of less than 1 million people, is now struggling to meet the needs of the growing magnitude of displaced people.

Using outdated delivery methods, the system has become notoriously dehumanizing and ineffective, with bureaucrats and administrators making decisions far removed from the end-user–the refugee.

A Better Way Forward: Refugees in the center of their own recovery.

We are reimagining existing players to support a system built around the refugee; a system built about opportunities presented by the realities of protracted displacement contexts. Better shelter outcomes accomplished more sustainably.

Home Changes Everything

Shelter

The standard-issue humanitarian tarps that millions rely on will only last 3-6 months before they start to tatter & leak.

Our locally made Billboard Tarps provide families durable protection from the elements for 5-10 years, save humanitarian agencies money from replacement tarps, and reduce the plastic waste in landfills.

Choice

Choice is fundamental to human existence.

Choice is the dignity that comes with the ability to decide for yourself. It is something that refugees often don’t get to do right now. We envision a place where they can come and choose for themselves what they need.

Jobs

Refugees as assets, not burdens

Refugees are talented, skilled, and hardworking people. It only makes sense to train them to be the producers of the goods needed by other refugees. Whether they’re our products or others, we want to build a model that sees refugees not just as victims but as collaborators and producers.

Sustainability

Importing Trash

In Uganda, we work with refugees to train them to produce shelter roof tarps that will last for 5-10 years. They are made from repurposed billboard vinyl. To date, we’ve repurposed over 130 tons of the stuff. Instead of importing bad tarps from abroad, refugees, for the first time, can provide a living for themselves, making shelter goods for other refugees.

Help give dignity to the displaced.

Every Shelter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, EIN no. 83-2501756 headquartered in Houston, TX.

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© 2025 Every Shelter, Inc. All rights reserved. Every Shelter and the Every Shelter logo are trademarks of Every Shelter Inc. | PO Box 30300 Houston, TX 77249 | Every Shelter, Inc., a US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-2501756 | info@everyshelter.org | Privacy Policy

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