‘Space capsule’ affordable housing by Santa Rosa nonprofit Homes 4 the Homeless expands to Starbase, Texas near SpaceX launchpad

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) — In the North Bay, some new affordable housing units, which look like space capsules, are getting national attention.

We first told you about the sci-fi shelter concept back in June, launched by a Santa Rosa nonprofit. Now, the venture is expanding to Starbase, Texas, not far from the SpaceX launchpad.

“It looks like something out of the future, and it is. The future is here with housing,” said Steve Schneider.

Homes 4 the Homeless CEO Steve Schneider said his modern pre-fab homes are something out of Star Wars, and he’s right. It honestly looks like space capsules have landed in Santa Rosa.

“There’s been a lot of talk about advanced tech vehicles, but this is really advanced tech housing,” Schneider said.

ABC7 News first told you about the new affordable housing concept back in June. Apparently, a lot of people saw our story.

VIDEO: ‘Space capsules’ land in Bay Area to provide shelter for the unhoused

Now, the nonprofit is reaching new heights by expanding to Starbase, Texas near the SpaceX launch site.

“Had it not been for ABC7 News, no one would have known. As a result, we got a call from a man who said, ‘I just saw this thing on the news. Amazing.’ Next thing we know, he was donating four pieces of land 1.8 miles from SpaceX,” Schneider said.

Schneider said he’s filed the paperwork, and a secured distribution partner in Texas. He hopes the ADU pods will bring awareness to new housing solutions.

“In a perfect world, I’d like to put people who need affordable housing in the community of Star Base,” he said.

The capsules are manufactured by Vessel in China, made of space-grade aluminum alloy. Prices start at $69,000 up to $109,000.

“It’s a dream come true matching up space capsule housing and space launching, like peanut butter and chocolate — doesn’t get any better,” Schneider said.

In the meantime, Schneider and his team remain committed to providing affordable housing solutions to the North Bay.

“We are inviting other nonprofits to help us facilitate the amount of attention we’re getting,” he said.