In an effort to minimize the cost of providing affordable housing to those in need, UMRC continually seeks innovative approaches to solving the problem. One of these solutions, which was initiated in 1999, is described below.

The prototype of the Elderly Transportable House was completed by the members of Wesley Memorial UMC in Hollywood, SC and was moved to the homesite of Ms. Louise Grant. The two room, air conditioned cottage complete with a large front porch boasts hardwood floors, a handicap accessible bathroom, living room, complete kitchen and washer/dryer connections.

The "home on wheels" is the brainchild of UMRC Director Pat Goss and long-time volunteer contractor Clarence Westendorf to fill the need for safe, warm and dry housing for elderly persons who live alone in often abysmal conditions. These homes are constructed on mobile home frames and built to the same specifications as single family residences. They can be transported to the homesite, connected to water, sewer and electricity and resided in until the recipient is no longer able to live alone. At that time, the ET House is refurbished and moved to another homesite.

In February of 2004, the newest version of the ET was completed and delivered.  This version is known as the “Double ET” and is designed with two bedrooms to accommodate those elderly persons that have a family member living with them to assist with care giving.

The relatively minimal cost of $29,750.00/per unit for materials coupled with the volunteer labor to construct it makes the ET project one that individuals, churches and other organizations can fund and/or construct, enabling a fleet of these transportable homes to be built to allow comfortable living conditions for a deserving segment of our community.

The ET program has been added to the Drucker Foundation's Nonprofit Innovation Discovery Site Database. Since 1991 the Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation has recognized social sector organizations for an innovative program or project that has made a difference in the lives of the people it serves -- producing results that exemplify Peter Drucker's definition of innovation: Change that creates a new dimension of performance.

The profile for UMRC's ET program can be found by following the link below:

Drucker Nonprofit Innovation Discovery Site