Nov 13

Nov 13 'Pallet' cabins, assembled in minutes, could house hundreds of homeless people in Sacramento

Giving back to the community, Getting people off the street

Assembled in minutes, a new type of metal cabin could quickly house hundreds of homeless people in Sacramento, Mayor Darrell Steinberg said Wednesday.

Pallet Shelter, a social purpose company based in Washington State, makes the cabins in a shop in Everett, WA. Councilmember Steve Hansen arranged for a demonstration Wednesday in the breezeway between the old and new City Hall buildings.

A 100-foot unit assembled by a Pallet crew in minutes can sleep up to six in drop-down bunk beds. Insulation between the walls keeps the cabin-style shelters warm in winter and cool in summer. Bathrooms and kitchens aren’t included. So far, the cabins are being deployed in Washington as part of communities with central kitchens and bathrooms.

The shelters cost $5,000 to $7,000 based on size and level of insulation. That cost doesn’t include the budget for the services, food service and restrooms needed to serve residents.

Mayor Steinberg said the Pallet homes could be an important new component of the city’s ongoing effort to house thousands of people currently living on the street. So far, that effort has focused primarily on erecting large “Sprung Shelters” that can house 100 or more people. The cabins can be erected more quickly and don’t require that the ground be paved.

The mayor joined Councilmember Hansen and Councilmember Jeff Harris Wednesday in touring the cabins and speaking with representatives of Pallet Shelter.

The company said it currently has 150 units in stock and can build 10 a day.

“I think we’d all support bringing something like this to our City Council as soon as possible,” Mayor Steinberg said.

The City opened a shelter this summer in the former Capitol Park Hotel, and paving recently began for a shelter that is expected to open in spring on a piece of land under the W/X Freeway near Alhambra and Broadway. A shelter for women and children is expected to open in February off of Meadowview Road.