Success Stories

An Ottawa Region Success Story

 

HousAll Systems Corporation

An Ottawa company houses the poor and the displaced

Like most of us in Western society, HousAll had always heard about the rough lives people in the developing world lead. The difference?  HousAll decided to do something about it.

The Ottawa-based HousAll Systems Corporation designs and manufactures shelters for people in the developing world, and those displaced by natural disasters. The modular and scalable shelter system consists of a steel and composite framed structure with reinforced corrugated plastics panels.  The HousAll Shelter Systems are durable, long lasting and quickly and easily assembled.  Due to the innovative use of materials and arcs in their engineering, these relatively simple structures are able to hold up immense weight loads and withstand extreme precipitation — as well as winds of up to 100km per hour.

The folks at HousAll saw an opportunity to increase their market potential and client base by building a bigger structure, but were challenged with the time and the expense of the scaled-up design.  The company reached out to the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) and the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) — both part of the Ontario Network of Excellence — which quickly connected HousAll with Algonquin College. Researchers at the college took HousAll's 12-foot shelter system and redesigned it into a larger 16-foot system. The larger shelters are on the market today.

Haiti Classroom before HousAll    Haiti Classroom after HousAll

The durability of its product was confirmed when HousAll’s shelters were some of the only structures that survived the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti.
HousAll had initially ventured to Haiti with its 12-foot series and the OCE assisted 16-foot series shelters in the autumn of 2009 to be demonstrated as schools and field offices.  After the massive earthquake in January 2010 that devastated the already poverty stricken country, HousAll realized the potential for their product and began shipping hundreds to help in Haiti with disaster relief.

Once again through OCE, Algonquin was further able to help HousAll when researchers were approached with flooding and uneven terrain challenges the shelters were facing.  They came up with a solution — an elevated and levelling platform system.

HousAll's shelter being used as a school in Macary, Haiti

“The research done at Algonquin accelerated our ability to go to more markets and to help in Haiti,” said Angelo Barone, Vice President of business development for HousAll.

While continuing to provide shelters for disaster relief, HousAll has now ventured into the recreational market — selling shelters for such uses as cottages and ice fishing huts.  And, with the ability to add a heater and even bunk beds, these shelters are working well in our own backyards.  With even further product development the company has also moved into the exploration and military markets.

Currently HousAll directly and indirectly employs over 30 people and continues to grow and succeed.