Alternative Shelter Options FAQs

• Fewer issues with litter and human waste
• Reduced systems costs associated with homelessness (e.g., law enforcement, health, waste management)
• More comprehensive data on an underserved and undercounted population
• Overall cleanliness and wellness services (i.e. vaccinations, testing) 

• Increased safety and security for people while they take care of daily hygiene activities
• Access to toilets, showers, waste management services 
• Access to hygiene kits 
• Increased access to behavioral health and medical services and employment and/or education opportunities (this program connects people to all these services) 
• Improved hygiene, which can lead to better outcomes in areas such as physical and mental health and employment
• A path to housing via housing navigation and coordinated entry
• Access to support staff 

The beauty of this program is that it is mobile, and it can visit different sites daily to provide these essential services to many residents at a variety of locations.

• A fast solution to provide a reduction in unauthorized camping and unsheltered homelessness 
• Fewer issues with litter and human waste
• Reduced systems costs associated with homelessness (e.g., law enforcement, health, waste management)
• More comprehensive data on an underserved and undercounted population
• A safe, monitored sheltering solution for those that do not have a home

These shelters are durable, dignified, and designed by people who have lived experience in homelessness. They provide the following:

• Increased safety and security for people and their property
• Access to toilets, showers, waste management services, and a kitchen
• Access to storage in their shelter
• Day-to-day stability
• Increased access to behavioral health and medical services and employment and/or education opportunities
• Improved rest, which can lead to better outcomes in areas such as physical and mental health and employment
• A path to housing via housing navigation and coordinated entry
• Access to support staff 

Pallet Shelters are typically located in existing unused parking lots or lots of land. Church parking lots are common, as well as land awaiting development.

• A fast solution to provide a reduction in unauthorized camping and unsheltered homelessness 
• Fewer issues with litter and human waste
• Reduced systems costs associated with homelessness (e.g., law enforcement, health, waste management)
• More comprehensive data on an underserved and undercounted population
• A safe, monitored sheltering solution for those that do not have a home

• Increased safety and security for people and their property
• Access to toilets, showers, waste management services 
• Day-to-day stability
• Increased access to behavioral health and medical services and employment and/or education opportunities
• Improved rest, which can lead to better outcomes in areas such as physical and mental health and employment
• A path to housing via housing navigation and coordinated entry
• Access to support staff 

Safe camping sites are typically located in existing unused parking lots or lots of land.  Church parking lots are common, as well as land awaiting development.

• Less disturbance of residents by unauthorized parking, and reduction in vehicle loitering
• Reduced crime against people experiencing vehicular homelessness; safe parking guests also function as protective members of the community
• Fewer issues with litter and human waste
• Reduction in road congestion from long-term vehicle parking
• Reduced systems costs associated with homelessness (e.g., law enforcement, health, waste management)
• More public health, employment, and other intervention opportunities
• More comprehensive data on an underserved and undercounted population

Sheltering in vehicles is often a first stop for individuals who lose permanent housing. Without intervention and support, many fall deeper into homelessness and may eventually end up on the streets. Safe parking provides:

• Increased safety and security for people and their property
• Increased access to services and employment and/or education opportunities
• Improved rest, which can lead to better outcomes in areas such as physical and mental health and employment
• A community of support among safe parking guests
• More day-to-day stability
• A path to housing via housing navigation and coordinated entry

Safe parking sites are typically located in existing parking lots during hours when they are otherwise unused. Church parking lots are common sites for safe parking.

• A reduction in unauthorized camping and unsheltered homelessness 
• Fewer issues with litter and human waste
• Reduced systems costs associated with homelessness (e.g., law enforcement, health, waste management)
• More comprehensive data on an underserved and undercounted population
• A safe, monitored sheltering solution for those that do not have a home 

• Increased safety and security for people and their property
• Access to toilets, showers, waste management services, and a kitchen
• Access to storage in the tiny home
• Day-to-day stability
• Increased access to behavioral health and medical services and employment and/or education opportunities
• Improved rest, which can lead to better outcomes in areas such as physical and mental health and employment
• A path to housing via housing navigation and coordinated entry
• Access to support staff 

Tiny home communities are typically located in existing unused parking lots or lots of land.  Church parking lots are common, as well as land awaiting development.