Throughout the world, inadequate housing is a crucial problem. Due to the rapidly increasing world population throughout the years, this problem will only increase in magnitude. While the world population was approximately 6.1 billion in 2001, the United Nations Population Fund speculates that by 2050 that number could reach anywhere from 7.9-10.9 billion. This massive population jump will surely exert enormous pressure to improve existing housing, and to create more homes for others. People will suffer if these pressures are not met with a viable solution. Lack of sufficient and proper housing will lead to overcrowding which contributes to the proliferation of disease. This will in turn generate a rising death toll throughout the world.

However, if straw-bale houses become an integral part of the housing market, the housing problem can be solved. This is because there is an overabundance of straw that goes unused each year. In fact in North America alone, 140 tons of straw are produced annually. Why not use this "waste" to build houses? The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that America's farmers harvest enough straw to construct approximately four million, 2,000 square foot homes in a single year. If we utilize this source of building material rather than simply letting it waste away we could supply shelter to many for a cheaper price than conventional housing.

In places around the world, lack of shelter has led to human suffering. According to the Population Action International, approximately 52% of housing in places such as Venezuela, Carcas and Pakistan are squatter settlements. However if strawbale house production becomes prominent and housing becomes cheaper overall, than many will be able to live in better conditions than previously. Strawbales houses are a remedy to many of the ills of our world that should be taken into consideration in the future.

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/111-2/focus.html

Brown, Valerie J. "Give Me Shelter: The Global Housing Crisis."
     http://www.ehponline.org. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.ehponline.org/
     members/2003/111-2/focus.html>.