How homes made from mushroom waste could solve Namibia’s housing crisis

“People think the house would smell because the blocks are made of all-natural products, but it doesn’t,” says Kristine Haukongo. “Sometimes, there is a small touch of wood, but otherwise it’s completely odourless.” Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube ► http://bit.ly/subscribegdn Haukongo is the senior cultivator at the research group MycoHab and her job is pretty unusual. She grows oyster mushrooms on chopped-down invasive weeds before the waste is turned into large, solid brown slabs – mycoblocks – that will be used, it’s hoped, to build homes in Namibia. The southern African country, with a population of about 2.7 million, urgently needs at least half a million new homes to address its severe housing shortage. Nearly 90% of households earn less than N$2,700 ($144.69) a month, according to 2016 figures, and can’t afford a home. One in five people live in makeshift homes made out of waste materials or zinc sheets. Speaking from a home made from mushroom waste, we spoke to Kristine Haukongo about exactly how they construct these homes – and the problems they’re addressing. Watch the video to find out more. The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://bit.ly/3biVfwh Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► https://ift.tt/4kfHcVr Website ► https://ift.tt/iQ9wj3B Facebook ► https://ift.tt/S9Y0NcF Twitter ► https://twitter.com/guardian Instagram ► https://ift.tt/4rgIlh2 The Guardian on YouTube: Guardian News ► https://bit.ly/guardiannewssubs Guardian Australia ► https://bit.ly/guardianaussubs Guardian Football ► https://bit.ly/gdnfootballsubs Guardian Sport ► https://bit.ly/gdnsportsubs It's Complicated ► https://bit.ly/ItsComplicatedSubs Guardian Live ► https://bit.ly/guardianlivesubs #regenerativedesign #mushroom #mushroomhouse #housingcrisis #shorts #mushrooms