During the holiday hustle, it’s easy to forget that sometimes the best gifts are free. In Dan Phillips’ case, the best gift is a good idea that keeps on giving. Phillips is the owner of Phoenix Commotion, a construction company dedicated to building low-income housing from reclaimed materials. License plates become roof shingles and wine corks become flooring in his whimsical homes, which number 14 to date in his hometown of Huntsville, Texas. Up to 80% of the resources in each project are salvaged from construction sites, junkyards, and roadside trash heaps, which keeps building costs and home prices extraordinarily low. Phillips also hires unskilled laborers to teach them a trade, and hopes that the company’s for-profit status will attract others to become involved with the knowledge that a living can be made helping others. Read about him in the New York Times, where you can also view a slideshow of his amazing work, or view Today Show video here. — Sarah C.

Photos by Michael Stravato for the New York Times
Related: Home Design on 990,000 Dimes

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