construction with a difference
Cargo2Casa puts the focus back on exceptional service
Do you have a large back yard? Want extra income or space for family members?
Building a Better Future for All
Cargo2Casa is a charitable and educational organization that brings people together to build low-cost homes out of ocean containers. By creating low-cost housing out of land, a homeowner already owns, it not only lessens the burden of government to provide additional housing but educates homeowners on optimal ways to create low-cost housing and provide a secondary income. These homes are sold to homeowners to supply assisted rental housing, and Cargo2Casa also provides educational programs to help homeowners learn about the financial benefits of adding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to their properties. By creating low-cost housing and helping homeowners generate additional income, Cargo2Casa is helping to address the affordable housing crisis and create more sustainable communities.
In addition to providing affordable housing, Cargo2Casa also trains underemployed community members in construction and teaches real estate and lending agents how to do construction estimates and site plans. This training helps people in the real estate industry who have been impacted by the high cost of housing, and it also helps to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the construction industry.
Racially inclusive and its mission is to create a world where every person has a decent place to live. The organization’s vision is to create sustainable communities through low-cost container homes, home ownership, rental income, neighborhood civic engagement, advocacy, home repair, and economic development.
Cargo2Casa’s work is particularly important because freight companies are creating an enormous surplus of empty shipping containers at ports. Re-using these containers for home-building purposes reduces the need for new materials and helps to create more sustainable communities.
Meet Our Team
At Cargo2Casa, a well-rounded Board of Directors brings together individuals with diverse skill sets. Each team member contributes unique talents and expertise. This diversity enhances problem-solving capabilities and ensures Cargo2Casa can adapt to various challenges.
Jim believes that by creating low-cost housing out of land a homeowner already owns not only lessens the burden of the government providing additional housing but also educates homeowners on optimal ways to create low-cost housing and provide a secondary income. These homes are sold to homeowners to supply assisted rental housing.
Joanna is President and Owner of Umedi a full-service digital marketing agency committed to helping other business owners succeed. She understands that the path of entrepreneurship can be challenging, and there isn’t a one size fits all answer to marketing.
Cargo2Casa is so lucky to have Pam Figueroa as our Director and Manager. With her real estate background, she is
able to help with all the city forms and regulations regarding ADU’s.
Expert Partners Agree
“No man but feels more of a man in the world if he have but a bit of ground that he can call his own. However small it is on the surface, it is four thousand miles deep; and that is a very handsome property.”
Trusted Partners
Cargo2Casa is not an island. Our Trusted Partners bring Cargo2Casa the brightest minds. Cargo2Casa gets the key movers and shakers from businesses across our community, these leaders, thinkers, and doers help analyze, research, plan, and implement using their knowledge and experience.
At Cargo2Casa, we get to forge these awesome, deep connections to make a significant change in our community that really matters.
Reach out to our Trusted Partners. You will quickly see why we work with them—they are the best of the best.
Home Depot
Cargo2Casa buys all the material that goes into our Cargo2Casa homes from Home Depot. We do this because Home Depot has an extensive product selection, professional tools, competitive prices, and a strong focus on customer service.
Cargo2Casa spends approximately $40,000 per home on materials and supplies. As this is a large part of our costs, we track each item we buy by part name, internet number, SKU number, and price. This information is fed into the Home Depot order system. This allows us to pick up or deliver our material the next day.
As Cargo2Casa is a non-profit organization, we only want to work with companies that give back to our community. The Home Depot Foundation works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap, and support communities impacted by natural disasters. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested over $550 million in veteran causes and improved over 65,000 veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest $750 million in veteran causes by 2030 and $50 million in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program.
The Home Depot values are very similar to the values of Cargo2Casa. At Cargo2Casa, we provide financial assistance to self-employed real estate-related persons with unexpected hardships. In addition to providing affordable housing, Cargo2Casa trains underemployed community members in construction and teaches real estate and lending agents how to do construction estimates and site plans.
Home Depot has The Homer Fund, which provides financial assistance to associates facing unexpected hardships, offers scholarships to associates’ children based on financial need and academic performance, and supports our people with financial information to help them prepare for emergencies. At Cargo2Casa, we like this and hope more companies will do this for their employees.
BMO Bank is a leading North American bank driven by a single purpose: to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. The BMO, Purpose informs our strategy, drives our ambition, and reinforces our commitment to progress for a thriving economy, a sustainable future, and an inclusive society.
BMO is the 8th largest bank in North America by assets. BMO provides personal and commercial banking, global markets, and investment banking services to 13 million customers. We’re proud to fuel progress for individuals, families, and businesses across North America.
Cargo2Casa proudly uses the Irvine branch, 18022 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92612.
Coastline ROP is a career and technical education (CTE) provider that prepares high school students and adults for various careers and further educational opportunities. The ROP course of study combines classroom instruction with hands-on learning and internship opportunities. The ROP operates under a partnership with Irvine, Newport-Mesa, Saddleback Valley, and Tustin Unified School Districts. Within these districts, the ROP serves 16 comprehensive high schools, 4 continuation schools, and 5 alternative schools.
Cargo2Casa loves Coastline ROP and many of their students are learning real life jobs at Cargo2Casa!!
Cargo2Casa is unique. First, it is a non-profit that works with homeowners to put ADUs in their backyards. Second, ADU Container Homes are paid for by various types of loans. Third, Cargo2Casa builds homes and then places them on the homeowners’ lots, making it a manufacturer. The combination of these three things was beyond the scope and understanding of the average escrow company. The only escrow company that understood what Cargo2Casa was doing was Corner Escrow.
Corner Escrow is an independent escrow company built on a solid foundation of unyielding integrity, unsurpassed professionalism, and good old-fashioned “know-how.” Their customers are hundreds of successful agents, brokers, bankers, and asset managers. Over the years, Corner Escrow has been integral to the real estate marketplace’s highs and lows. They have established themselves as a rock-solid closing company that values people and personal relationships ahead of file numbers.
For more information on Corner Escrow reach out to Katie DiCaprio at 949-303-0515 or email Katie@CornerEscrow.com
Coastline Regional Occupational Programs (ROP)
ROP is a unique educational program designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore, discover or confirm their career interests. Choosing the right job, the right college or the right career path can be a long and difficult endeavor. Education, experience and exposure can make this process easier. Early exposure, preparation and experimentation by taking classes specific to a career pathway are solid steps toward future success. ROP classes are offered in each of the five career pathway areas: Arts and Communication, Business and Marketing, Health Sciences and Science and Technology. Classes are held at various high school and business sites throughout Orange County. Students are responsible for their own transportation, including to and from internship sites. Classes with an (unpaid) internship or cooperative arrangement earn 5 – 10 credits per semester, and classes without an internship or cooperative arrangement earn 5 credits per semester. ROP semesters run concurrent to the CEC calendar. Credits are shown on the transcript as elective units. Classes are open to students 16 years of age and older. Some ROP Classes are accepted for UC/CSU approval. For additional information, contact the ROP Career Specialist in the College and Career Center.
GOLDEN STATE CRANE is a very special company for Cargo2Casa. When we started Cargo2Casa, Rick Torgerson, the President of Golden State Crane, let us use part of their yard to build our first Cargo2Casa home. We are very grateful to Rick Torgerson for his belief in Cargo2Casa.
While working out of the Golden State Crane yard, we saw first-hand how Golden State Crane is committed to delivering exceptional, cost-effective, and safe solutions. We were able to meet all of the Golden State Crane staff. We can see why the President, Rick Togerson, says that his people are his most valued assets and that his success depends upon the energy, professionalism, and skill set of each member of his team.
Thank you, Rick Torgerson and your staff at Golden State Crane, for all you have done to get Cargo2Casa started.
Cargo2Casa is located in Irvine. We support the Irvine Public Schools Foundation as it takes a diverse and dedicated community to keep education at the leading edge.
By leveraging collective resources, IPSF helps to ensure a sustainable model for educational excellence that can endure the volatility of state funding for education.
IPSF raises funds to ensure educational equity across the school district, serving each child in every school. Thanks to donations to Irvine Public Schools Foundation, students have opportunities that would not otherwise be possible. A community united in support of education is the difference in Irvine!
Cargo2Casa strongly believes that our children are our future. Many of our interns come from the Irvine School District. They work in our administration office in Irvine. Students from the ROP program get hands-on experience at Cargo2Casa.
The Irvine Unified School District comprises a diverse population of more than 38,000 TK-12 students in one early childhood learning center, 24 elementary schools, five K-8 schools, six middle schools, five high schools, one alternative high school, and two virtual academies.
Cargo2Casa is proud that the Irvine Unified School District schools have been nationally recognized for their comprehensive programs in academics, the arts, and athletics. Through a partnership with talented and caring teachers, engaged students, involved parents, and supportive business and community leaders, student and district performance continually exceeds state and national standards.
Jason McMahan, Assistant Vice President at Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation does all of the Title work for Cargo2Casa.
Lawyers Title is driven by an outstanding team of people. As a leading provider of title and escrow services, their customers rely on Lawyers Title to facilitate successful closings, identify new opportunities, and create solutions that save time and money.
The Director of Cargo2Casa has been working with Jason McMahan for over 20 years. We love Jason as he creates a great experience for our customers, employees, and the community.
Tony Forsythe, EA, is a director of Cargo2Casa. He has over 25 years of experience working for his client’s benefit. As an Enrolled Agent, he is federally authorized as a tax practitioner, and his technical expertise covers all areas of taxation, from tax planning to preparation and resolution. He lives for a challenge and is a self-proclaimed bulldog for his clients.
Tony won’t hesitate to advocate for clients, so he specializes in audit resolution. He is a member of the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers. Outside of work, Tony enjoys golfing, swimming, and spending time at the beach. Tony is also a teacher at Approved Real Estate Academy.
Cargo2Casa is very proud to have Tony Forsythe as a Director for our non-profit.
Cargo2Casa is so lucky and proud to have Joanna Umali of Umedia Marketing on the Board of Directors for Cargo2Casa.
Inspired by the art of effective communication, Joanna is consistently seeking avenues to bridge the gap between ideas and tangible results, transforming visions into reality. With over 15 years of being immersed in San Francisco’s startup landscape, she uncovered her passion for PR, marketing, and business development. She especially thrived on working with founders and entrepreneurs, uncovering their stories, and finding the most creative and effective ways to share them.
Joanna and Cargo2Casa believe that our values of community, connection, and empowerment are the foundation of our business. These aren’t just words but the core principles that drive our approach to every project and ultimately build each client’s success.
Joanna can be reached at www.UmediaMarketing.com, email Hello@UmediaMarketing.com, Phone 213-587-5462.
Woodbridge High School is located across the street from Cargo2Casa’s Irvine office. Many Woodbridge students work as interns, getting hands-on experience in office administration, real estate, and the world of a Nonprofit.
Working with the Woodbridge students, Cargo2Casa gets to see how Woodbridge High School develops critical thinking for its students.
Cargo2Casa can see how Woodbridge students actively participate in learning and develop agency over their thinking and decision-making. They will then be able to think within and across disciplines to create solutions to complex and multifaceted problems. By listening and being open to multiple perspectives, students will refine their positions and take seriously the responsibility they must contribute to the constructive exchange of ideas and the discourse of the citizenry.
Cargo2Casa is so grateful to have Woodbridge High School next to our Irvine office. It is exciting to see the students grow a sense of self that exhibits pride, confidence, and healthy self-esteem.
