Homelessness is a steadily growing problem in today’s tough economy. Providing shelter for the homeless is becoming incresingly difficult for urban communities.

But that’s about to change.

12-year old Max Wallack has designed a “Home Dome” – a shelter for the homeless made from plastic, wire and packing peanuts.

This unique shelter won the Design Squad’s Trash to Treasure contest which challenged kids to create practical inventions from trash.

Reminiscent of a Mongoliam yurt, the Home Dome won Walleck a $10,000 prize, a Dell computer and a trip to Boston.

But money wasn’t the reason behind the invention, said Max. “I care about helping people,” he explained.

This is his second winning invention. At age 6, he won an invention contest that included a trip to Chicago.

“I saw homeless people living on streets, and beneath highways and underpasses. I felt very sorry for these people, and ever since then, felt that my goal and obligation was to find a way to help them. My invention improves the living conditions for homeless people, refugees, or disaster victims by giving them easy-to-assemble shelter.”

City fathers could learn a lesson in resourcefullness from this 12-year old.  Could we soon see these recycled “bubbles” springing up across the country? Seems like a sound investment for communities to make.