Every Shelter

This April, Every Shelter is launching “Why We Flee,” a month-long series exploring the human realities of violent displacement across Syria, South Sudan/Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Anchored by a powerful photo exhibition from acclaimed Congolese war photojournalist Moses Sawasawa, this series will shed light on the complex factors driving refugee crises and the urgent needs of displaced communities. “There have never been more people on the move in history due to violent displacement,” says Scott Key, Co-Founder & CEO of Every Shelter. “It is important to us to zoom in on the ground realities for these families and communities in crisis, and bring attention to the needs we can help address.” Join us as we listen, learn, and take action. #WhyWeFlee #RefugeeCrisis #EveryShelter

This April, Every Shelter will present "Why We Flee," a month-long series exploring the human realities of violent displacement across regions where the organization works, including Syria, South Sudan/Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Anchored by a powerful photo exhibition featuring the work of acclaimed Congolese war photojournalist Moses Sawasawa, the series offers multiple educational events designed to deepen understanding of the complex factors driving refugee crises in these regions. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eS4yNKZs

The refugee crisis is massive, complex, and sadly growing quickly.?Systems that have been at play for decades are failing to meet the needs of most displaced people,?leaving millions stuck in limbo for decades.? ? Our proactive approach involves not just reacting to the crisis but actively building a better way forward. We're focused on finding lasting solutions. everyshelter.org?

"For these first seven years, it was just Scott and Sam and an idea (and wives, and kids, and mortgages, and “real” jobs that actually paid us regularly). We managed to land a grant with USAID-DIV as we finished up grad school, but it was not enough to pay us a living wage. "We had 'real' jobs in architecture and design that allowed us unpaid time off to oversee a multi-settlement pilot in Lebanon, where we worked under the umbrella of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We left behind wives and newborns as we flew back and forth between Houston and Beirut to see if our flooring product could scale to prevent hypothermia." Read our origin story and celebrate five years of impact in our 5th-anniversary report. https://lnkd.in/gVR546pU

"When you see something that needs to be fixed in the world, you should try to fix it and redeem it." Read our origin story and celebrate 5 years of impact in our brand new report. https://lnkd.in/gVR546pU

The best shelter designs don’t come from conference rooms — they come from the people who will live in them. At Every Shelter, community-led design is at the core of everything we do. That’s why Tukul 2.0 is not just about improving structures — it’s about co-creating solutions with the displaced communities. Here’s what community-led design looks like in action: ? Listening First: Before we designed a single joint or roof panel, we listened to the men, women and families who use these shelters every day. What works? What fails? What do they need most? ? Respecting Cultural Traditions: The Tukul 2.0 honors traditional building methods and family dynamics — creating a space that feels like home, not just a temporary fix. ? Local Expertise, Local Labor: Tukul 2.0 focuses on training and equipping local builders and artisans, turning shelter construction into a livelihood opportunity while embedding ownership and pride. When communities lead design, the outcomes are smarter, more sustainable, and more dignified. Tukul 2.0 isn’t just a shelter — it’s a collaborative blueprint for what dignified displacement housing can be when we trust and elevate local voices. If you’re passionate about community-led innovation in humanitarian spaces, we’d love to connect and share more. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gPe8-cgs #CommunityLedDesign #HumanCenteredDesign #RefugeeShelter #EveryShelter #Tukul2_0 #ShelterInnovation #Localization #DisplacementSolutions

Honored to be featured in Rice University’s Alumni Newsletter in an article titled “Owls Impact: How These Rice Alumni Are Changing Lives.” You can check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gkViQ6yb Thank you to Rice University for sharing our story and to all who support this mission! #EveryShelter #RefugeeAid #OwlsImpact #RiceAlumni #HumanitarianInnovation

Honored to be featured in Rice University’s Alumni Newsletter in an article titled “Owls Impact: How These Rice Alumni Are Changing Lives.” You can check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gkViQ6yb Thank you to Rice University for sharing our story and to all who support this mission! #EveryShelter #RefugeeAid #OwlsImpact #RiceAlumni #HumanitarianInnovation

Why We Flee: Exploring the Human Realities of Displacement This April, Every Shelter presents “Why We Flee”, a month-long series shedding light on the lived experiences of refugees from Syria, South Sudan/Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Anchored by a powerful photo exhibition featuring acclaimed Congolese war photojournalist Moses Sawasawa, this series invites you to engage with stories of survival, resilience, and the complex realities behind violent displacement. “There have never been more people on the move due to violent displacement. We must zoom in on the realities for these families and communities in crisis.” — Scott Key, Co-Founder & CEO, Every Shelter Event Highlights: “Why We Flee” Photo Exhibition – April 1-30 (Mon-Sat, 10am-2pm) “Why We Fled” Refugee Panel – Personal testimonies from displaced communities (Date TBD) “The Trouble With Aid” – Documentary screening & discussion (April 23) “Syrian Displacement & the Prospects of Return” – Panel in partnership with Rice University’s Baker Institute (April 29) All events are free and open to the public. Donations to support Every Shelter’s mission are encouraged. Sponsorship Opportunities Available Support this series and Every Shelter’s work designing sustainable shelter solutions for refugees. Sponsorships range from $1,000 to $10,000, with benefits including event recognition and exclusive signed prints by Moses Sawasawa. Join us in raising awareness and taking action. Email [email protected] to learn more. #WhyWeFlee #EveryShelter #RefugeeVoices #Displacement #HumanitarianAid #MosesSawasawa

Today we are publishing our first true "impact report" in honor of and as a reflection on the first five years of our existence as an organization. While we hope it communicates, "what we have done," our larger hope is that it communicates, "who we are." We hope as you read it, you will celebrate with us all that we have accomplished together, with you. But we also hope that as you read it you will catch the vision for what creative restoration can look like in our sector, and be even more excited for all that is yet to come. There are a lot of things broken in the world, and in the world of displacement. But together we can do so much. On behalf of all the people we serve, thank you for your support. Until every refugee creates home, https://lnkd.in/gVR546pU