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A young engineering student in Canada tests a modular microhouse model made with fiberglass and PET, amid the debate on temporary solutions for homeless people.
The engineering student Ribal Zebian, 18 years old, developed in London, Ontario, Canada, a prototype of a modular microhouse made with fiberglass panels and PET insulating core.
The proposal is to test whether a small, replicable, and quick-to-assemble structure can serve as a transitional shelter for homeless people.
According to reports published by CTV News and reproduced by international outlets, the young man intends to live for 12 months in one of the units to evaluate flaws, weather resistance, and real usage conditions.
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The project gained visibility when presented as an experimental alternative amid the debate on affordable housing in London.
Zebian studies at Western University and, according to the reports, began working on the concept after expressing concern about the growing homeless population and rising property prices.
The number initially cited by the student was about 1,800 homeless people in London.
However, more recent municipal data indicate that the monthly average of people on the so-called by-name list, a registry used by the local service system, was above 2,200 between 2024 and 2025.
The city hall informs that these panels show system trends, not an absolute count, because the situation changes frequently and not all cases are recorded in official records.
How the modular microhouse was designed
The structure proposed by Zebian uses fiberglass molds to form panels that can be repeated on a scale.
According to the description released, the intention is to allow the pieces to be mass-produced, with a similar standard among the units, which could reduce assembly time if the model advances to an industrial stage.
The roof was developed with a PET foam insulating core, an acronym for polyethylene terephthalate, a material known for its use in plastic packaging.
According to the information published about the prototype, this core was designed to assist in supporting the roof and insulating the structure.
In an interview attributed to CTV News, the student stated that fiberglass allows for the creation of complex and replicable molds.
He also declared that the PET cover system was chosen for providing structural support to the roof.
The goal presented in the project is that one unit can be assembled in just one day, although the proposal is still in the prototype phase and needs to undergo tests before any scale production.
The current model was described with dimensions of 8 feet by 5 feet by 8 feet, approximately equivalent to 2.4 meters in length, 1.5 meters in width, and 2.4 meters in height.
The space is small, but Zebian stated, according to reports, that the project can be expanded up to three times.
The next step he foresees would be to develop a larger version if the initial tests indicate the need for adjustments.
12-month test in the microhouse
One of the central points of the project is the creator’s own decision to live in the microhouse for a year.
The schedule released in the reports predicted the start of the test in May 2026.
The stay would serve to observe the unit’s behavior throughout the seasons and record problems that might not appear in a presentation, technical drawing, or short-term evaluation.
Zebian said he wants to go through summer, winter, spring, and fall inside the shelter to understand how the prototype responds to temperature changes and daily use.
In one of the statements released, he said that living in the space for this period would allow him to notice “every mistake” and adjust the experience before seeking manufacturers or partners for possible production.
The testing phase can also indicate whether the structure meets practical usage requirements.
Among the points to be observed are thermal insulation, ventilation, humidity, durability, safety, maintenance, and adaptation of residents to a space with limited dimensions.
These aspects are often considered in discussions about temporary shelters and transitional housing.
The proposal was not presented as a sole solution to homelessness.
In the debate about tiny homes in Canada and other countries, this type of unit often appears associated with emergency shelters, temporary housing, or transitional projects until access to permanent housing is achieved.
In the case of Zebian, the reports treat the prototype as a possible tool within a broader set of policies and services.
Housing Crisis in Canada
The initiative appears in a context of increased demand for housing and shelter services in Canada, according to official data.
The national report Everyone Counts 2024 identified almost 60,000 people experiencing homelessness in a single night, considering 74 participating communities.
The survey also pointed out that 17,088 people were in unsheltered locations, including outdoor areas and encampments.
The same report recorded a growth of 79% in the total enumeration in 56 communities that participated in previous counting cycles, compared to 2020-2022.
Within this scope, the population in unsheltered locations increased the most, with a rise of 107%.
This data helps contextualize the interest in temporary shelter alternatives and faster construction.
In London, the city hall maintains monthly panels on the homeless population service system.
The municipal administration reports that the data gathers information from the national HIFIS system, used by shelter and assistance services.
The municipality itself, however, emphasizes that people who do not access city-funded services may be excluded from some records.
For this reason, the figure of 1,800 people cited in the original reports should be understood as a reference at the time the proposal was presented, and not as an updated picture of the entire local scenario.
Available municipal information indicates that the pressure on the service system remained high in the following years.
Tiny Homes and Transitional Housing
Affordable housing advocate Gary Brown told CTV News that tiny homes do not represent the complete answer to the crisis, but can be part of the solution.
He also said he has seen similar initiatives in other cities and assessed that London would be behind in this type of discussion.
Brown’s statement assigns a complementary, not substitutive, role to the proposal.
In this understanding, a microhouse could offer more structured temporary shelter than staying on the streets or in camps, provided it is linked to health services, social assistance, monitoring, and referral to permanent housing.
Zebian also commented on the appearance of the construction in statements reproduced by international media.
According to him, the intention is not to deliver a “square” house without architectural care.
The statement was used to explain that the project tries to combine quick assembly, reduced cost, and some degree of concern with the design of the unit.
So far, there is no public confirmation of large-scale production, final cost per unit, or official adoption of the model by public agencies.
The available information indicates the intention to test the prototype, identify flaws, and seek manufacturers or partners after this stage.
Without this data, the microhouse remains an experimental project under evaluation.
