Don't fear the pod people!

A good first step for emergency shelter.

Shelter comes in all shapes and sizes. This week, the city of Burlington, Vermont, made some news by reviewing the performance of one of its city shelters. Using “Pod” buildings, the shelter was constructed in less than 48 hours, housing up to 30 people at a time. The program is low barrier (few requirements for initial access) but high structure (safety standards are enforced on the property), initially bringing push back from the surrounding neighborhood. That resistance has faded.

Initially, guests were limited to six months in the shelter. Now, however, the reality of available housing has caused the staff to extend stays when necessary. Burlington, like much of the rest of the country, found that shelter was the easiest part of the puzzle. Even though emergency shelter is complex, affordable housing is almost impossible. Many cities across the country are now facing the challenge of a second step. More homeless people are in shelters, but they are stuck because there are few affordable transitional options.

Pods, or tiny homes, are a viable sheltering option, depending on the local context. They are not good long-term solutions. Pods are cheap, but deteriorate quickly, giving them a life span of only a few years. Stability is key for transitioning out of homelessness, so other solutions are needed.

It is good to see creative shelter options. I hope more communities think outside the box, or in this case, inside the pod.

Author's Note: After almost 17 years, my employment at the Springs Rescue Mission is ending. I am saddened by this transition, but hope to continue advocating for common-sense homelessness programming. I am going to try to continue this newsletter, grateful for all those who give it a glance every week.