Information

Carpenter Auntz is a volunteer driven organization. We are not a charity YET, but hope to be in the near future. Any financial assistance goes 100% to purchasing products to put into the vehicles we build out. We do not use any of it for our own needs (food/travel, etc.). Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Once we are established as a charity, we will post that herein. 

https://www.gofundme.com/manage/help-us-build-out-vehicle-homes-for-nomads

 

Frequently asked questions

It all began with a simple idea fueled by a deep passion. As a small business, we pride ourselves on personal attention and dedication to every detail. Our approach is rooted in quality and integrity, ensuring that everything we do reflects our commitment to excellence.

What exactly do you do?

We find people living in their cars who need help, especially with sleeping platforms.  We offer to help get their basic needs met by building things for them. 

Carpentry Help?

When you live in a vehicle, you know that the floor is often very cold and lumpy. We strive to make sure everyone gets a sleeping platform at a level inside their vehcles that is comfortable and usable for them. Sometimes its directly on the floor, other times it is elevated so that they can store things under the bed and not have to put the bed away every day as they try to live otherwise (cooking, showering, etc.). 

Why do you do this?

Affordable housing is a myth. The overwhelming majority of people living in vehicles today are women over age 65 who are surviving on meager SS benefits of from $900 - $1800 per month. You can't rent an apartment, eat and have a car to use to get to and from the store or a job on this little bit of money so many choose vehicle life so that they can survive on less money and be able to visit their grown children, or travel to see different parts of our beautiful world. 

How much does a build cost?

Our priority is building bed platforms. Sometimes this means suspending a piece of plyood over the flooring areas of a mini-van or compact car. For this we typically need 1 sheet of plywood that is cut into the platform and/or legs to support the platform. We also use many exterior (deck) screws, Simpson Strong Tie brackets and hinges (so that the people can access their storage from inside the vehicle and don't have to unload everything to get to one item closer to the center of their car).  Typically, we can build out a mini-van for roughly $75 - $100.  Sometimes drawer glides or table "fold-down" brackets raise this cost.  We try to get the individual to provide their own supplies and the labor is free, but not everyone can afford to do this. 

Who are YOU?

We are just volunteers who like helping people. One of us (original Carpenter Auntz) is from an Electrical background, but not a lot of electrical needs are found in vehicle builds other than plugging things into a battery, therefore, she works with carpentry. One of us is from a design background (residential architecture).  With this knowledge and with AutoCAD and Sketchup skills, we plan before we cut the pricy lumber!

Why do you only build stuff in January & February each year?

We seriously want to expand our building months, but we build generally in the Quartzsite AZ area and that's when the nomads are there. We plan to open other build sites in other parts of Arizona for when the weather is too hot in Quartzsite. Stay tuned to our facebook page, that is where we'll announce our new build sites as they come about in the near future. 

Where else do you hope to have van building sessions?

Some proposed areas include Snowflake AZ and near the  Prescott/Prescott Valley areas.  We are trying to partner with other charity organizations and plan builds in parking lots of churches and other organizations so that people can spend the night and stay beside the build while we build. 

If you are working on my vehicle, where do I stay?

Most builds only take a day or two (we do not build out an entire VAN, we are building a platform or maybe a cabinet). So while we work, if your van is totally disassembled during construction, we usually find a tent that can be set up for you to store your items from your vehicle in, including your bedding, and you can sleep in the tent for 1 - 2 nights while we work on your vehicle. Then, you can carefully re-load your things into your vehicle taking advantage of all the new storage that has been created by adding the sleeping platform or cabinets that were cmade for you. 

Beyond the ordinary

This is where our journey begins. Get to know our business and what we do, and how we're committed to quality and great service. Join us as we grow and succeed together. We're glad you're here to be a part of our story.