From launching a new product to expanding our footprint and creating our new workforce model, it was an eventful year at Pallet. Read on for our top stories of 2024.

As we look back on 2024, we are both proud of our advancements in providing safe, secure spaces for unsheltered populations and motivated to keep pushing forward. Even as we passed 5,000 shelters built in North America, expanded our reach into Canada, and released a new innovative product line to offer faster deployment and comfort for residents, the human displacement crisis persists—encouraging the Pallet team to continue working tirelessly until everyone has a stable place to call home.

Here's a round-up of our top stories from this year. 

1. Pallet Hits the Road in California

Kicking off the year, the Pallet team embarked on a roadshow through California to showcase our new S2 product line and meet people working on the ground in their communities to solve their local displacement crises. We stopped in 11 different cities from Sacramento all the way to Los Angeles, displaying our S2 units and demonstrating the positive impact Pallet has made for unhoused communities across North America. [Keep Reading]

2. Launching Our S2 Shelter Line

Featuring an innovative panel connection system enabling even faster deployment, improved safety features, and increased comfort for residents, our S2 line is the next evolution of our in-house engineered and manufactured shelter products. Every decision we made in developing these new products was informed by input from residents living in Pallet shelters across the country and our own lived experience workforce. [Keep Reading]

3. Pallet's First Canadian Site Opens in Kelowna

Offering 60 individual shelter units for people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna, BC, STEP Place is Pallet’s first community installed in Canada. The City of Kelowna partnered with the Province of British Columbia and BC Housing to provide safe, secure spaces for people to stabilize and access onsite services provided by John Howard Society of Okanagan and Kootenay. 

“We recognize the immediate need to bring unhoused people in Kelowna indoors and provide them the care they need,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “Through this housing, people experiencing homelessness can be supported as they stabilize and move forward with their lives.” [Keep Reading] 

4. Denver Opens First Village of S2 Shelters

Just in time for the New Year and part of Mayor Johnston’s plan to house 1,000 unhoused Denver residents by 2025, the opening of the city’s first micro-community also marked the first site comprising Pallet’s S2 Sleeper shelters.

“This is such a symbol of what we wanted to create,” said Cole Chandler, the mayor’s homeless czar. “It wasn't just about getting people indoors, but it's about bringing people back to life and helping people thrive. And you see that in this space.” [Keep Reading]

5. Introducing Our Purpose-Led Workforce Model

From the very beginning of Pallet, we have placed our team members at the core of our mission to give people a fair chance at employment. The majority of our staff have lived experience of homelessness, incarceration, recovery from substance use disorder, or involvement in the criminal legal system. With our Purpose-Led Workforce Model, we are taking the next step in helping our team grow and advance their careers. [Keep Reading] 

6. Public-Private Collaboration in Santa Fe

Working together, the City of Santa Fe and Christ Lutheran Church opened the state’s first micro-community of its kind to provide shelter and supportive services for unhoused New Mexicans.

“It takes a community working together to really solve the challenge of homelessness, and that is our aim: to have zero homelessness in Santa Fe,” said Mayor Alan Webber. “We will keep working to make sure the people who are homeless in Santa Fe are housed, safe, secure, with respect, dignity, and with services.” [Keep Reading] 

7. Tonya: "I feel like I'm doing something worthwhile"

Tonya knows Everett like the back of her hand. She spent most of her childhood on the north side of town but has lived in various neighborhoods throughout her life. So it seems fitting that now, after a decade of living on the streets of her hometown, she’s found a new path at Pallet and already moved into a place of her own mere steps away from HQ.

As one of the first participants in Pallet’s Career Launch PAD (Program for Apprenticeship Development), Tonya and her classmates are starting on the path to building independence and a brighter future for themselves. [Keep Reading] 

8. Pallet Provides Shelter in Response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton

In rapid response to the disasters sustained in Florida following two major hurricanes, the Pallet deployment team jumped into action to build 50 shelters to help people get displaced by Helene and Milton get inside to safety.

By working closely with Pasco County administrators, county commissioners, facilities departments, and Catholic Charities, we were able to deploy and assemble the shelters mere days after the storms passed. [Keep Reading]

9. Connecting Pallet Team Members with Housing

At Pallet, our people are our purpose. Giving people a fair chance at stable employment and creating a supportive environment that fosters wellness and growth for all our team members is a crucial part of our mission. 

A key part of this is ensuring that everyone on our team has all the tools and resources they need to succeed. In our work building shelter communities for displaced populations across North America, we know firsthand how having a safe, stable place to live is not only a basic human right—it is also the foundation for maintaining health, helping those with substance use disorder on their recovery journeys, and healing trauma. 

That’s why we are proud to have become a Community Partner with Housing Connector, an organization that helps find housing for marginalized individuals and families. In our first year of the partnership, Housing Connector has been instrumental in finding housing for 4 Pallet team members by removing barriers and locating available properties. [Keep Reading]

Make your voice heard: by voting in the election, especially on the state and local levels, we can help create communities where everyone has a place to call home.

As the November 2024 Election takes center stage, national discussions on presidential candidates and their policy platforms often overshadow other topics. However, for issues like housing and homelessness, decisions made in local elections can have a more immediate and profound impact. While federal policies set broad parameters and designate funding streams, local and state governments are often where real change can happen—especially regarding housing development, zoning, and homeless services. 

During this 2024 election cycle, it’s critical to understand how different levels of government function and influence housing and homelessness policy—and why your vote all the way down the ballot counts. 

How Local, State, and Federal Governments Shape Housing and Homelessness 

Housing and homelessness are complex issues, influenced by a web of policies set at the federal, state, and local levels. While each level of government plays a distinct role, their collaboration is essential to creating sustainable solutions. 

Federal Role 

At the federal level, laws and programs provide the financial backbone for many housing and homelessness initiatives. Agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocate billions annually for affordable housing, shelters, and assistance programs. Other key players, such as SAMHSA and the VA, provide mental health, substance use support, and housing services for veterans. These agencies work with local governments and nonprofits to prevent and reduce homelessness nationwide. 

Medicaid, managed federally and at the state level, also supports services like behavioral health care for those experiencing homelessness. Federal policies often set the stage, but the implementation of programs like housing vouchers, grants for affordable housing projects, and homelessness outreach often depends on local administration. 

State Role 

State governments act as a crucial intermediary and often set their own standards for addressing housing and homelessness as well. States determine how federal funds are distributed to cities and counties and may set additional housing policies tailored to their specific needs. For example, state governments may pass legislation that incentivizes the development of affordable housing by offering tax credits or grants to developers. They may also establish tenant protections, housing bonds, or rent control measures, which vary according to the political climate of each state. 

Local Role 

For those passionate about housing and homelessness, voting in local elections is one of the most powerful actions you can take. City councils, county boards, and mayors make key decisions on zoning laws, land use, public health and safety, and the allocation of local budgets for shelters and supportive services. For instance, zoning laws dictate where emergency shelters and affordable housing can be constructed, and can either exacerbate housing shortages, or encourage development for homes or mixed-use spaces. 

Local governments can also create strategic plans to create more housing or end homelessness, and they are uniquely positioned to pass ordinances around public camping or shelter availability – which directly impacts those experiencing homelessness. 

This interplay between federal, state, and local policies creates a patchwork of regulations and funding streams that can be difficult to navigate. Outcomes often depend on local officials’ ability to effectively manage across these systems, and therefore, these leaders play a vital role in how well your community addresses housing and homelessness.  

Why This Election Cycle is So Important

This election cycle presents a crucial opportunity to combat the escalating housing crisis and growth of homelessness. Nationally, many are struggling with skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable housing that is driving homelessness. The COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and economic uncertainty have exacerbated these issues further, leaving more people vulnerable to housing insecurity. As a result, the leaders we elect in November will inherit the responsibility of navigating these challenges. 

It's not just the high-profile races that matter—down-ballot races, like those for city councils and county commissioners, directly affect communities in a multitude of ways, shaping policies that affect renters, homeowners and those experiencing homelessness.  

How To Get Involved

Since “down-ballot” races often receive less media attention, fewer people may be informed about local candidates and their platforms. This makes it even more critical to research local candidates and understand their positions on the issues. 

There are many ways to learn about local candidates, such as attending town halls, visiting their campaign websites, or reviewing their voting records. There are also many ways to get involved beyond voting, such as volunteering for candidates, ballot measures, or with local advocacy groups. 

Whether you are voting early, by mail, or on election day Tuesday, November 5^th, remember that every vote counts—especially for local races where margins can be slim. 

While national elections may shape the headlines, local politics shape communities. By making a plan to vote with housing and homelessness in mind, we can help create thriving communities where everyone has a place to call home. 

By broadening housing and supportive service models that meet the needs of those fleeing domestic violence, we can prevent impacted families from experiencing homelessness.

Research conducted over the past two decades has produced staggering and concerning statistics that illustrate the link between domestic violence and homelessness. Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S., equating to 10 million victims per year. 38% of all domestic violence victims experience homelessness at some point in their lives. And in a survey conducted on one day in 2016, out of 11,991 unfulfilled requests from adults and children fleeing domestic violence, 66% of those requests were for safe housing and shelter. 

There are many factors that contribute to this connection. To make meaningful change in ending this epidemic, it is key to understand the systemic inequity creating barriers for individuals and families escaping domestic violence—and ultimately remove those barriers by providing compassionate, comprehensive support via shelter, housing, and services. 

Why is Escaping Domestic Violence So Difficult? 

Before this question can be answered, it’s important to note that this framing is, in itself, problematic and perpetuates a culture of victim blaming. It’s a more appropriate question to ask, “Why do abusers hurt their partners, and how do they prevent them from leaving the relationship?” 

There are several immediate reasons why domestic violence survivors feel they cannot leave their abusive partners. In many instances, leaving can be more dangerous than staying, with abusers threatening to harm or kill their partner, child, or pet. Psychological manipulation can also cause survivors to feel isolated and cut off from crucial support networks, making them feel like they have nowhere to turn. The majority of survivors also experience financial abuse, where they either have no access to the household’s income, have been prohibited from working, or have had their credit score destroyed by an abusive partner. 

Beyond these direct barriers preventing freedom from their abuser, survivors also face systemic obstacles. A lack of easily attainable resources such as emergency shelter options and transportation to service provision sites prevent victims from quickly finding support. Even in light of state and federal laws preventing housing providers from discriminating against victims, some landlords will refuse to rent to someone who has experienced domestic violence. Further, those who have immigrated to the U.S. face language barriers, fears of being separated from their children, and potential threats of family members in their home country. 

Best Ways to Support Survivors

The most effective ways to help survivors of domestic abuse are to expand emergency shelter models, transitional housing, and services tailored to their specific needs—while concurrently improving accessibility of these resources. 

Emergency shelter, specifically non-congregate options like Pallet that follow principles of trauma-informed design, offer survivors a safe and secure environment that allows families to stay together in their own private space. Transitional housing with integrated supportive service programming is also an ideal model for people escaping an abusive living situation, giving survivors the chance to achieve economic stability and physical well-being. 

In 2023, roughly 10.4% of all beds within homelessness service systems were reserved for survivors of domestic abuse and their families. Expanding overall shelter space and placing a concerted focus on tailoring short-term housing solutions to the unique safety needs of survivors is needed. One example is allocating more funding to grants like those administered through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). 

By understanding the challenges survivors face in seeking out help and providing easily accessible emergency shelter, short-term housing, and services that directly address their needs, individuals and families fleeing abuse will be better supported to achieve long-term safety and freedom. 

If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic violence or abuse, please refer to the following resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center 

Battered Women's Justice Project Criminal and Civil Justice Center 

National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence 

Ujima, Inc.: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community 

National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities 

Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence 

Data collected from sites across the country shows how the Pallet village model helps residents transition to more permanent solutions. 

Every person’s journey to permanent housing is different. The trauma of displacement means every individual encounters their own barriers to finding a stable place to call home. And once someone exits this continuum of care that includes congregate and non-congregate shelter, supportive housing, and other forms of assistance, their success story often goes undocumented. 

Although it is challenging to track a person’s progress through the housing continuum with accuracy and consistency, it is crucial to seek out this information and ensure our approach is effective. Pallet’s mission is to provide the supportive environment needed for displaced populations to move onto permanent housing, and this data tells us if our model is working and how we can improve our methods to best suit the needs of every village resident. 

Establishing an Open Dialogue is Key 

Our partnerships with village service providers are essential in both tracking residents’ progress and gathering context for what resources are needed in each unique community. Site locations across North America are faced with specific root causes of displacement, meaning there is no “one size fits all” solution. This is why once a village is built, our work isn’t finished: details like ongoing operations, maintenance needs, and supportive service provision all tell a distinct story that informs the future of Pallet. 

Survey responses from village operators show that on an average day, 10 people move from an existing Pallet village to permanent housing. This tells us that in a broad sense, the pairing of dignified shelter with wraparound services like food and water, hygiene facilities, healthcare, counseling, and employment placement programs are effective in equipping residents with the tools necessary to transition to more permanent solutions. This trend works out to 3,200 expected transitions per year. 

Measurable Success 

Our ongoing relationships with service providers also bring to attention success stories like Tim’s, who found his own apartment after living in the Salvation Army Safe Outdoor Space in Aurora, CO. Connections to a state-sponsored pension program via onsite staff and help from the Aurora Housing Authority were instrumental in leading Tim to his own home, showing an effective model tailored to the individual needs of each resident. 

Vancouver, WA’s approach to address their homelessness crisis, centered on a robust scope of resident services, has also proven success in helping vulnerable individuals on the path to housing. Their first Safe Stay community, The Outpost, reported 30 people moving to permanent housing since opening. Meanwhile, Hope Village achieved 14 transitions in their first year of operations, attributing resident success to a compassionate, healing communal environment with resources including meals, food bank deliveries, clothing, transportation, and assistance obtaining legal identification. 

A Way Forward 

Aurora and Vancouver are just two examples of sites that have experienced success with the Pallet village model. We believe that while interim shelter is a crucial part in creating safe spaces for vulnerable people to stabilize, it takes a breadth of additional support. This is why we view our product development through the lens of trauma-informed design and lean on our lived experience workforce for perspective: to ensure we are continuing to refine our mission to serve displaced communities to the best of our ability. 

By investing in this approach and making concerted efforts toward inclusive wraparound services, any city has the potential to provide displaced populations with pathways to stable and permanent housing. 

Understanding the differences between affordable and attainable initiatives is key to a future of stable, equitable housing.

Skyrocketing rental prices, astronomical interest rates, insufficient supply: the severe lack of affordable housing options is not a new development. As of March 2023, a shortage of 7.3 million affordable rental homes was reported, disproportionately affecting low- and extremely low-income families and individuals.

Housing affordability has become a chronic challenge—homeownership has been deemed unaffordable in 80 percent of U.S. counties—prompting policymakers to address this crisis through a variety of affordable housing initiatives. But to make a true impact on housing initiatives, understanding the distinction between "affordable" and "attainable" housing is crucial. While affordable housing targets specific income brackets, attainable housing places a focus on removing a slew of barriers and bringing suitable options within reach for a wider demographic.

Challenges in Housing Attainability

Despite numerous federal programs aimed at providing affordable housing, a significant gap exists between demand and available support. Strict eligibility criteria and additional screening processes often exclude vulnerable populations from assistance: one in four extremely low-income families in need of housing assistance actually receive it. This leaves an estimated 40.6 million Americans burdened by high housing costs, where more than 30 percent of their income is spent on housing and limits their ability to meet basic needs.

Various systemic barriers, including discriminatory practices and economic thresholds, also hinder a person’s access to attainable housing. Landlord discrimination against housing voucher holders, coupled with restrictive zoning laws, further exacerbates the crisis. Moreover, individuals lacking necessary documentation or with legal system records face significant challenges in securing stable housing.

While housing assistance programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the Housing Choice Voucher Program play a crucial role in federal housing strategies, recipients face significant disadvantages including resource limitations and systemic biases. In particular, public housing has experienced a history of mismanagement and underfunding, perpetuating generational patterns of poverty and instability.

Proven Solutions to Improve Housing Attainability

To effectively break the cycle of housing insecurity, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes increased government funding, mixed-income housing developments, and expanded access to private capital for developers. Additionally, lowering the multitude of barriers facing vulnerable and low-income populations—accomplished through reforms in zoning laws, enhanced support for renters through federal programs, and amending punitive regulations aimed at formerly incarcerated individuals or those with legal system involvement—is a crucial step toward attainable housing solutions.

By prioritizing attainability, creating innovative partnerships, and developing more inclusive affordable housing initiatives, we can work towards ending housing insecurity while building economic stability and stronger social communities.

To learn more about solutions that address practical, accessible, and attainable housing for all, download our Attainable Housing White Paper.

To ensure our shelter design truly meets the needs of Pallet village residents, we spoke with some of the first people living in our new S2 units to gain feedback and insight from their experience. 

The core of Pallet’s mission is to provide safe, secure shelter for people who have experienced displacement and offer a healing environment that helps residents on their next steps toward permanent housing. In developing our innovative S2 product line, we incorporated crucial feedback from our own lived experience workforce and applied key principles of trauma-informed design, knowing that this input is an essential part of creating dignified and comfortable spaces for every Pallet village resident. 

Everett Gospel Mission (EGM), a village in our hometown, was the first site to receive 70-square-foot models of our S2 Sleeper shelters. We connected with four residents who had lived in the original shelter designs at EGM and now have moved to S2 units—Kenny, Jimi, Summer, and Erik—to hear their feedback on the new shelters and learn about their stories. 

Kenny 

Kenny has lived at EGM for nearly two years, originally moving to the site with his friend Libby after losing their housing. He had never experienced homelessness before or spent any time in congregate shelters. 

He says since moving to the S2 shelter, he’s noticed the thicker walls have improved insulation and heat retention, reduced condensation, and made the interior more soundproof—a helpful detail since he’s teaching himself to play guitar. 

“You don’t hear the rain as much: it’s quieter, way quieter,” Kenny said. “I can be a little louder in the brand new one compared to the old one, because I like to turn the amp up real loud, you know, and play the guitar and stuff. It stays warm in there a lot longer too I’ve noticed. Yeah, it’s overall better.” 

Kenny gets along with everyone else living at EGM and doesn’t find it hard to make friends with others in the village. He noted how he likes the residential windows in the S2 unit: him and his neighbor will both open them up and talk from the comfort of their own space. 

“It’s kind of cool, because the bed’s right there, so I just open the window and I can talk to the neighbor, and he’ll open his,” he told us. “He bet me four bucks that they would touch if we opened them.” 

Kenny easily won that bet. 

Jimi 

Coming to live at EGM after being hit by a car while crossing the street, Jimi is using his time in the village to focus on sorting out medical issues and navigating a settlement in the case of a broken lease agreement. Sporting a leather jacket and a slick pair of yellow Chuck Taylor’s, he told us he’s grateful to have a temporary space after a tumultuous period of having nowhere to stay and limited means to transport his belongings to a storage space. 

“It helps me not have to feel rushed,” Jimi said. “I got a pretty good head injury when I got hit. I don’t remember like I used to. I used to be able to multitask, but now I have to concentrate on one thing. So, being here gives me a chance to plan things, do one thing at a time.” 

Jimi mentioned the new unit offers a calmer environment because it’s quieter. 

“The thickness of the walls really makes a difference as far as noise,” he said. 

Being able to store and arrange his belongings neatly with the integrated shelving is also a plus. 

“[There is] a good place to hang your clothes,” Jimi said. “They have little shelves and a place to put hangers and stuff. That’s a lot better. Feels like you can organize your stuff a little easier.” 

Summer 

Experiencing homelessness for four years before moving into EGM, Summer has been a resident of the village since it opened. She finds comfort in decorating and caring for her plants and flowers, a hobby she picked up since moving into the community. She even arranged planters in communal areas in addition to the inside and outside of her own shelter. 

“I did all the flowers that are out here and all the gardening and stuff,” Summer said. “I was doing it for myself already and they said, ‘Hey, let’s put in more for everybody,’ so I just ended up doing all of it.” 

Summer told us she likes the ability to customize her shelter and make it her own. She’s added extra storage cubes and shelves, as well as hung mobiles she’s made from the ceiling. A mirror, a TV, and, of course, more plants make Summer’s shelter feel cozier and more unique. 

“Everybody always is like, ‘Oh my god, your house looks so much different than everybody else’s!’” 

She noted the size of the windows, larger bed, and improved heat circulation are notable details that make the S2 unit comfortable. 

Overall, Summer said her favorite part of living at EGM is the ability to feel settled and have a space of her own. 

“I could sit, you know, and actually stay and decorate it,” she explained. “I can feel comfortable and actually move in and not have to worry about police making me leave or having to drag everything with me. I have a place I can go in and sit down and have room for company and a TV.” 

Erik 

Erik has only lived at EGM for four months, spending the first two in the original shelter design before moving into the newer model. He said the increased square footage in the S2 unit is a significant improvement in maneuvering his wheelchair, and the larger bed is a better fit for him. 

“I can move around a lot better in a wheelchair,” he told us. “To be able to sit in it and turn around makes a huge difference. And the bed is a little bit wider, so I sleep a lot better. It’s lower too, because I was tending to sit up against the bed in the older one. Those made my legs fall asleep and cut my circulation off. With the new style bed, that’s totally better: I can sit up on the edge of the bed and my legs won’t fall asleep.” 

He also said the tighter seals on the corner connections and improved insulation from the wall panels helps keep the heat in. 

“Having it hold the heat is a big difference too because it makes you feel like you’re in a better structure, since it’s not leaking out the seams.” 

When Erik was hospitalized due to heart failure, he lost his housing, his car was impounded, and he found himself living on the streets. This was after working his whole career in the construction industry: first building houses, and then operating his own concrete company. He said it was a shock to exit the hospital and lose so much, along with experiencing displacement for the first time in his life. 

Even with this devastating loss and coping with his medical issues, he is appreciative to be part of the community at EGM and have his own shelter. 

“I think it’s great and it’s a great program, it’s a great thing [Pallet] is doing making those and making them available for communities to put them in and help people out,” he said. “Because I definitely need help. So it’s a beautiful thing what you guys are doing, because when people need help, you’re part of the solution.” 

To learn more about how the design of our S2 shelters was informed by those with lived experience, read our blog. 

All the details that come together to make our new S2 shelter line were inspired and informed by feedback from our own lived experience workforce.

One of Pallet’s foundational elements is our lived experience workforce. As a fair chance employer, we provide opportunities for people who have experienced homelessness, recovery from substance use disorder, and involvement in the criminal legal system to build their futures.

We often talk about how our approach to designing Pallet shelters and implementing them within a healing community village model is informed by those with lived experience. In developing our S2 shelter line within the lens of trauma-informed design, these voices were crucial to ensure that our shelters provide private, safe, and dignified living spaces for displaced populations and encourage positive housing transitions.

There are many seemingly minute considerations that influenced the design of our S2 Sleeper and EnSuite models. To capture how important these details truly are for village residents, we gathered Pallet’s first Lived Experience Cohort—Josh, Alan, Sarah, and Dave—to describe in their own words how each design aspect is significant for anyone who has experienced the trauma of displacement.

Comfort

Significant changes in aesthetic, functionality, and fixtures make the S2 line a more comfortable living space overall. Smooth wall panels make the interior of each shelter more welcoming.

“The biggest thing is the aluminum [interior flashing] is gone,” says Josh. “So it feels like a home. It seems like someone took time to make it.”

When Josh was in Sacramento on Pallet’s California Roadshow, he noticed how attendees felt while touring S2 shelters.

“Almost everyone who walked in said, ‘This feels very warm. It’s so inviting to walk in here, it’s so open.’”

Dave comments on the effect this feeling would have on someone who has experienced homelessness.

“One of the most disturbing things to me when I was out there was coming to that realization: ‘I don’t have a f***ing home anymore,’” he recalls. “And to go into something that feels like a home, that you can call your little home, that’s really nice. That’s huge.”

Residential windows are another significant detail that Sarah notes.

“They give more lighting, so it doesn’t feel like a jail cell,” she says.

“They’re way better windows,” Dave adds. “[Residents] have a big, nice window to look out of now.”

Installing larger beds was also a noted concern, and the Twin XL is a more inclusive option.

“I think the larger sized mattresses are great,” she says. “Now villages can get twin sheets and covers and protective sheets that fit. And the fact that these new mattresses are waterproof, even the threading on the seams.”

The S2 EnSuite is Pallet’s first sleeping shelter with integrated hygiene facilities. Josh says the opportunity to have this kind of space with access to his own bathroom would have been a significant aid in his recovery journey.

“If I moved into the EnSuite, that would have blown my mind,” he quips. “If I was coming off the street or living in my Explorer like I was at the time, and moved into that, I might have been clean way sooner. Because it would’ve given me some hope that somebody cared.”

Safety Features

Pallet’s in-house engineering team created the S2 shelter line with safety at its core. In addition to the structurally insulated panels that offer durability and robust wind, fire, and snow load ratings, the elimination of exposed hardware in the interior is another detail that ensures safety for residents of all ages and walks of life.

Input from our lived experience team and feedback from Pallet village residents across the country also led to tweaks to the included fixtures, reducing the likelihood of essential safety functions being disarmed or damaged.

“We were pushing to get a cage over the smoke alarm, or something to prevent people from taking them off,” Sarah remembers. “Now [with the hardwired connection] you can’t shut off the power to the smoke alarm.”

The consideration that displacement affects different communities—from single residents with pets to families with young children—also influenced changes in other design elements of the S2 that may have gone unnoticed otherwise.

“I think the electrical panel is better: now we have the breakers on the outside and the plugs on the inside,” Josh adds. “So it keeps you from wanting to easily tamper with it.”

Dignity

Offering a more customizable layout and built-in wire shelving in the S2 line creates a dignified space for every Pallet shelter resident.

“Having a place to hang up clothes, that’s something I heard a lot when I was talking to residents in California,” Sarah comments. “That was a huge improvement, because if you’re still having to constantly live out of your bags and your suitcase, you’re not moving forward to get out of that survival mode.”

The ability to freely move the bed and desk is also a significant detail for people who have experienced institutional or congregate shelter settings.

“If I saw the bed set up in between two windows, I would say, ‘There’s absolutely no way I would pass out in between in between two windows,’” Alan quips. “I would sleep underneath the bed maybe. Because people walking past the windows, it just doesn’t make me feel very safe.”

Sarah agrees: “And then too, if you want to rearrange or just make it your own, everyone’s going to have a different feel of where they want to sleep on any given day. It gives you freedom. And if you have the freedom to live how you want to live, it gives you the sense of self-sufficiency rather than having to follow all the strict congregate shelter rules.”

Josh further highlights how significant this feeling of freedom can be when looking back on his own experiences.

“See, I would have never moved it, but having the opportunity to move it is a big thing,” he says. “Because when you’re in jail, your bed is where it is. Your seat is where it is. There’s no moving it around, so being able to move your house around like anyone else, it makes you feel more like a human being.”

Ultimately, our Lived Experience Cohort members agree that implementing these changes to create the S2 line advances our mission to help displaced populations transition to more permanent solutions.

“In the future when we come out with new products, it’ll probably be like, ‘Oh wow, I didn’t really think of this before,’” Josh offers. “But right now I think this is the best we can do. It really is, until we get more feedback on what the next thing is.”

“We are providing that space for people to take the next step,” Sarah replies. “We can’t personally give good wraparound services because that’s not our thing, but we can provide the environment for it. It takes all these little things to get out of survival mode, but the first step is to get off the streets, and that’s where we start. It takes a village to help a village.”

Adopting the principles of trauma-informed design is a crucial framework for creating a safe, supportive, and healing environment in every shelter we build. 

When developing and designing Pallet shelters, our top priority is to best serve the needs of displaced populations. This is why we have our dignity standards in place: to ensure that each shelter village provides a positive, supportive community environment for every resident. 

But we also understand our responsibility to design our shelters so they offer a private, healing atmosphere for people to plan their transitions to more permanent solutions. It has long been understood that the way we interact with and utilize physical spaces—along with our emotional and psychological reactions to those spaces—are dictated by a wide range of design choices. An airy, open lobby with large windows and ample natural lighting is bound to elicit a completely different response compared to an enclosed, fluorescent-lit office. 

Only recently has this concept been integrated into architectural design specifically catered to vulnerable users. With trauma-informed care as a framework, trauma-informed design (TID) seeks to create physical spaces centered around principles like safety, empowerment, and well-being. Building with these concepts in mind can actively aid a person’s development, grow their ability to trust others, and avoid the possibility of re-traumatization. 

Experiencing chronic homelessness, coping with substance use disorder, reintegrating into the community after being incarcerated, or suddenly losing your home to a natural disaster are all traumatic experiences. By viewing our product development and engineering processes through the lens of TID and incorporating features that promote healing, inclusion, and stabilization, we aim to provide shelter that supports the needs of those impacted by the trauma of displacement. 

Here are some of the ways we applied the four main principles of TID—Safety & Trust; Choice & Empowerment; Community & Collaboration; and Beauty & Joy—in the design of our innovative S2 shelter line: 

1. Privacy: A key aspect of TID is privacy. When someone moves into a Pallet shelter, they are able to access a personal space of their own with a locking door. For people who have experienced living unsheltered, staying in congregate settings, or being incarcerated, walking through the door with to a private and restful place is a powerful moment. 

2. Security: In addition to a locking solid core door equipped with a kick plate and peephole, having each shelter as part of a larger community model with onsite security personnel makes residents feel less isolated, even when enjoying the privacy of their own unit. Outside lighting also promotes a feeling of safety for residents of Pallet villages. 

3. Safety Features: Extensive product testing guarantees that S2 shelters are safe in even extreme conditions—whether it’s wind, snow, rain, or extreme cold. Each unit is equipped with a smoke/CO detector, a fire extinguisher, and an egress window in case of emergency. 

4. Residential Fixtures: Interior options like a freestanding bed and desk visually separate S2 shelters from institutional settings while allowing for a customizable layout. Features like operable residential windows and LED lighting also help residents minimize associations with environments where they potentially experienced trauma. The S2 EnSuite, Pallet’s first sleeping shelter with an integrated bathroom, includes a toilet, sink, and shower. For vulnerable populations with specific traumatic experiences, access to private hygiene facilities can be a significant step toward healing. 

5. Climate Control Options: Beyond keeping shelters warm in the winters and cool in the summers, integrated heating and A/C allows residents to freely adjust temperatures to fit their personal preferences. 

6. Storage and Organization: Integrated shelving and storage space grant residents to safely store their possessions, display meaningful belongings, and organize necessities like clothes and food—bringing a sense of autonomy and respect not found in institutional settings. 

7. Clean, Simple Aesthetic: Pallet’s patent pending connection system and the structurally insulated panels used in the S2 line allow for smooth exterior and interior walls, creating a warm, inviting environment in each shelter. 

Pallet is committed to applying the philosophy of TID in our shelters to accommodate village residents who have lived through trauma. Applying these concepts, along with listening to feedback from real users and our own lived experience workforce, helped us develop the S2 shelter line as our most innovative solution to the crisis of human displacement. We believe that every design detail, no matter how small it may seem, can make a big difference in someone’s journey to permanent housing and reintegration. 

To see how S2 shelters provided rapid shelter and warmth for unhoused Denver residents by the New Year, read our case study. 

Look back at our top stories of the year: from product innovation to expanding our footprint and receiving dispatches from our villages around the country, these highlights capture what Pallet achieved in 2023.

As the year comes to a close, we’re looking back at the stories we’ve shared throughout 2023. With the most recent PIT count reflecting a 12% increase in homelessness in the U.S., the need for innovative solutions like Pallet continues to grow. Over this past year, our team has doubled down on lived experience-led product innovation with the development of our new S2 product line, all the while growing our capacity by adding over 300 additional shelters and laying the groundwork to expand our response into Canada.  

Here’s a round-up of our top stories from this year.  

1. Pallet Builds Its 100th Village

Just before Christmas in 2022, we crossed a milestone — building our 100th village. It’s located in Tulalip, WA which is just a short drive north of our headquarters. The location holds special meaning for some Pallet employees who previously experienced homelessness in the area and are now finding purpose in building transitional housing to help others in the community. The village is made up of twenty 64 sq. ft. shelters and one 100 sq. ft. shelter and was constructed in just two days by the Pallet deployment team. The Tulalip tribe manages the site and provides onsite services for community members. Residents moved into the 20 shelters early February 2023. [Keep Reading]

2. Jennifer & Alan: Closing the Loop Through Giving Back

The two first met each other a handful of years ago when they were living on the streets of the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Washington. Today, they’re coworkers at Pallet. Their witty humor makes them a dynamic duo dropping hilarious one-liners as they tell stories about their past. Indeed, they can have a crowd in stitches.  

“I relate to many of the people here because we can laugh about things that most people would get appalled by,” Alan says in admiration of his co-workers, many of whom share similar lived experiences.   
 
Jennifer agrees – they have witnessed the darker sides of life. But, she says, they’ve risen above them. “It’s like, you guys, we have overcome so much and we’re killing it now. We are rock stars,” she says, laughing.  

She and Alan are proud to have surmounted substance use disorder and other challenges that are, truthfully, nothing to laugh at. Right now though, they’re excited to be working on Pallet shelters for a new village on the Tulalip Reservation where they were once unhoused themselves. [Keep Reading]

3. Introducing PathForward™

There is no one solution to end homelessness. Every municipality and every community have their own specific needs. While our Pallet villages coupled with wraparound supportive services are a successful model, we understand there are other strategies to address the homelessness crisis. Working closely with cities across the country, we realize communities want to find the right solutions and know our expertise and learnings from deploying over 100 shelter villages could help them drive change. So, we’ve launched PathForward™ homelessness advisory services. 

Pallet’s PathForward provides support for cities to create customized solutions with defined goals and resources like funding roadmaps, implementation plans, policy research, capacity building, partnerships, project management and more. Our service uses data-backed strategies anchored by people with lived experience. Cities can work with Pallet in a variety of ways including long-term partnerships, special projects, and one-off advice. [Keep Reading] 

4. Dignity as a Guiding Principle

To help our unhoused neighbors transition out of homelessness and build a better future, providing shelter is one of many steps. A dignified living situation means reliable access to food and water, hygiene facilities, transportation, safety, supportive services, and more.  

We created our Dignity Standards with these basic needs in mind. Guided by input from Pallet team members with lived experience, their purpose is to hold all stakeholders accountable, including ourselves, and always act in the best interest of the communities we serve. They also function as guidelines for the cities and service providers who operate our villages, intended to evolve and refine as we learn what works best. Because without dignity, who are we?  [Keep Reading]

5. Rebuilding Her Life: Linda

In our Village Voices series, we shine a spotlight on residents living in Pallet shelter villages across the country and give them the chance to share their stories. 

Linda Daniels was walking down the street with her bags looking for a place to sleep that night. An outreach worker happened to notice her and asked if she needed help. Within two weeks, she was a resident of the Rapid Shelter Columbia village.  

A month in, Linda says the chance to have her own space to rest, to return to after a long day as a custodial worker at the University of South Carolina, and to collect her thoughts has been pivotal in being able to move forward.  

“It means the world to me, because I got my own space, and I got my own place to where I can call mine right now,” she says. “I like being by myself a lot of times. So if I’m going through something, I can come in my room and think about what I’m going through and try to make things better. And I think this is a wonderful thing.”  [Keep Reading] 

6. Dave: Right Where I’m Supposed To Be

Early on, Dave had already made his own way in life. He started his manufacturing career with Boeing at age 20, got married, had three children, and bought a home for his family. After achieving all this and growing up in a large family in Everett with good relationships with his parents and siblings, it might come as a surprise to hear what was going through his mind at the hospital on May 12th, 2019.  

“I was 100% resigned I was gonna die in my addiction,” he recalls. “But then that moment of clarity, that spiritual awakening, that epiphany, whatever you want to call it, hit me in there. I’m like, ‘this is not gonna be my legacy that I died with a f***ing needle in my arm sitting in the hospital. I’m gonna fight this,’ you know? And I did. And I appreciate every single day.” [Keep Reading] 

7. Four Ways to Fund a Pallet Shelter Village 

Pallet shelter villages serve as transitional spaces for people experiencing homelessness. They provide the dignity and security of private units within a community, along with a resource net of onsite social services, food, showers, laundry, and more to help people transition to more permanent solutions.  

Several components to consider when building a village include identifying which Pallet shelters best suit the needs of the community, finding a site location, setting up infrastructure, and selecting a service provider. Funding is also crucial. Below are four sources that can be combined to fund the costs associated with creating a Pallet shelter village. [Keep Reading] 

8. Proven Safety: Rigorously Testing and Certifying Our Shelters 

With thousands of Pallet shelters across the country, we’re constantly gathering feedback on their design from customers. This information is crucial for our in-house engineering team. It allows them to understand what our shelters must withstand in the real world.   

With that knowledge, they can design Pallet shelters to meet various demands, and rigorously test them onsite.   

And yet, we don’t stop there. We also third-party certify our shelters to truly validate their designs.   

All this is critical because our shelters often go into storm-prone and extreme weather zones. They must reliably protect the residents who live in them, all while remaining cost-effective.  

Our new S2 shelters illustrate our deep commitment to R&D. Building on our legacy of intentional, quality engineering, they advance our mission to offer safe, dignified housing for displaced and vulnerable populations.  [Keep Reading]

9. Rethinking Post-Disaster Housing Solutions

By now it’s a familiar sight: cities and towns ravaged by hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, or wildfires; homes and living spaces decimated; and people ushered into stadiums, schools, or anywhere that has the capacity for those displaced. In 2022 alone, 3.3 million Americans were displaced by disasters—and one in six people never returned to their homes.   

While mass congregate shelter is often the only viable option to aid survivors directly following a natural disaster, it is not a sustainable solution for the days, weeks, or months that follow. In the variable, unpredictable period when homes, rental housing, and other living facilities are being rebuilt, there is a distinct scarcity of interim shelter options that fit the diverse needs of displaced populations. 

It’s time to take a closer look at why our current system of post-disaster housing isn’t sufficient, and to provide broader, more equitable options for people displaced by natural disasters.  [Keep Reading] 

10. Roxana: Power in Compassion 

Most people would assume bringing a shelter village to life couldn’t be accomplished by a single person. Completing an undertaking of this scale is typically the culmination of a team of stakeholders overcoming various obstacles: identifying funding sources; finding an appropriate site; setting up necessary infrastructure like water and electricity; and rallying the community for support. Roxana Boroujerdi is unlike most people.

Located on the grounds of Everett’s Faith Lutheran Church, Faith Family Village comprises eight Pallet sleeping shelters and two hygiene units that will serve local families experiencing homelessness. The village will also offer supportive services that aim to create paths to employment, education, and permanent housing—alongside facilities and activities that create a safe and fun environment for children living onsite.  

And even with her fair share of personal challenges, none of it would have come to fruition without Roxana. [Keep Reading]

After an emergency evacuation at a low-barrier permanent supportive housing site, Pallet was able to prevent resident displacement within 48 hours.

When thinking about emergency evacuations, it’s common that natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires first come to mind. But there are many other scenarios that can threaten the stability of a living situation and cause abrupt displacement, making the provision of emergency shelter solutions crucial in a moment’s notice.

Clare’s Place, a permanent supportive housing complex in Everett, WA, experienced exactly this kind of emergency in October.

When 48 of the 65 units in the building came back positive in tests for environmental contamination, all residents were forced to evacuate due to safety and health hazards. Clare’s Place is a low-barrier site that serves vulnerable community members including chronically homeless individuals, those diagnosed with mental illness, and people living with substance use disorder. Staff needed to identify an appropriate solution immediately to temporarily house the affected residents.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin promptly contacted Pallet’s Founder and CEO Amy King, looking to rapidly install shelter units to accommodate the residents evacuated from Clare’s Place. In order to serve the needs of those displaced, residents would need the ability to remain close to their possessions and case managers, so the units would ideally be built directly on the property.

Members of the Pallet Deployment team sprang into action. Working tirelessly overnight, they were assisted by Catholic Community Services (CCS, who operate Clare’s Place) and assembled 30 shelters in the parking lot. Snohomish County PUD also responded and supplied the site with power.

Within 48 hours of that initial call, shelters were deployed, assembled, and move-in ready as a safe and urgent solution to temporarily house residents of Clare’s Place. Because of Pallet’s stockpile of 64-square-foot sleeping shelters, the site was established with the urgency required for this emergency.

This unfolding of events speaks to the utility and efficacy of interim shelter as an emergency solution for displaced populations—particularly vulnerable communities that require hands-on supportive services. The capability to provide essential aid with urgency also points to the advantage of stockpiling this model of shelter. When residents living at the Clare’s Place site are able to move back into their apartments, the shelters will be stored as a supply for future emergencies in Everett.

To learn more about the instrumental role interim shelter can play in emergency situations, download our Post-Disaster Housing Continuum Infographic.

Through her success spearheading Everett’s Faith Family Village, Roxana is living proof that passion and perseverance can create lasting, positive change for the community. 

Most people would assume bringing a shelter village to life couldn’t be accomplished by a single person. Completing an undertaking of this scale is typically the culmination of a team of stakeholders overcoming various obstacles: identifying funding sources; finding an appropriate site; setting up necessary infrastructure like water and electricity; and rallying the community for support. Roxana Boroujerdi is unlike most people. 

Located on the grounds of Everett’s Faith Lutheran Church, Faith Family Village comprises eight Pallet sleeping shelters and two hygiene units that will serve local families experiencing homelessness. The village will also offer supportive services that aim to create paths to employment, education, and permanent housing—alongside facilities and activities that create a safe and fun environment for children living onsite. 

And even with her fair share of personal challenges, none of it would have come to fruition without Roxana. 

“I am 70, I have MS, and I was in a car accident and lost my knee,” she explains. “I have a lot of things that people might consider strikes against me. But with God, all things are possible.” 

The idea for Faith Family Village was born in the throes of the pandemic while Roxana was running the church food bank. When people were no longer able to safely come inside and choose what they needed off the shelf, Faith Lutheran was forced to explore alternative options. The USDA was beginning to form partnerships with organizations to donate food to those in need, and someone from the Everett chapter of Volunteers of America (VOA) pointed them in Roxana’s direction. 

“VOA told the USDA: ‘They should contact the crazy lady down at Faith Food Bank, she’d probably do it,’ she recalls. “So I told them to bring the big rig and we’ll work it out somehow. Little did I know that after a month, we had about 250 cars that came to pick up food—the line stretched [over half a mile] all the way to Value Village.” 

After receiving help from a team of volunteers to distribute to the crowds, Roxana was able to connect with people one-on-one and ask why they came to the food bank. The amount of people that told her they were homeless or couldn’t afford to pay for their rent or food, including families living out of their cars, didn’t sit right with her. So she started researching. 

Roxana discovered Pallet online and saw operational villages in nearby communities. She didn’t hesitate to contact the mayor of Burlington to see the Skagit First Step Center. 

Mayor Sexton offered Roxana a tour, breakfast in the village’s community room (“and they gave me lunch because I stayed too long”), and even extended an invitation to stay overnight and experience sleeping in a shelter.  

Learning about the structure and case management embedded in the village model prompted Roxana to take the idea of starting a new Pallet village at Faith Lutheran to fellow members of the congregation. While first met with opposition, she convinced the church council by taking them to a neighboring site in Edmonds and learning about the realities of hosting a shelter village community. The following council vote granted Roxana approval for building the village. 

Then came the roadblocks.  

Even with no experience navigating complex issues like land use laws and city zoning codes, Roxana tirelessly pushed through every obstacle in her path. First, she played an instrumental role in changing Everett city code to allow children to stay in Pallet shelters. Then she had to coordinate a series of tests to build on the church property—a survey for Indigenous artifacts, studies for noise and water runoff, and a slew of others. She had to obtain funding, which she procured through sources like Washington state senator project grants, sizeable donations from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), human needs grants from the city of Everett, and donations from various community and congregation members. Local businesses like Rodland Toyota, who were already active supporters of the Faith Food Bank, also stepped up to donate supplies and interior furnishings for the shelters. 

At first, Roxana was worried about pursuing funding streams. But she soon realized it was just another duty she could carry out herself to bring the village closer to groundbreaking. 

“It’s a lot,” she says. “When I started, it was a lot of weight. But now that I feel like I have a community of donors that are also invested, that helps a whole lot. And now I’m not so shy in asking people: ‘Can you give me this or that?’” 

One of the most significant obstacles Roxana encountered was raising community support. Many neighbors of Faith Lutheran expressed strong feelings against building a village on the church grounds, citing concerns of attracting criminal activity or encouraging an unsanctioned encampment nearby. One homeowner with property bordering the church attended a community meeting, adamant that the site would never be welcomed. Roxana wasn’t fazed. 

“I gave my talk about how many kids are homeless,” she recounts. “And what happens to those kids’ futures, like not graduating or joining a gang or becoming the next generation of homeless people.” 

The very next day, the neighbor called Roxana and offered $2,000 toward the village. Through his involvement in the village’s progress, he later donated all the materials for an upgraded perimeter fence surrounding the playground. 

“I think God touched his heart and said, ‘No, it’s not right that these kids have to sleep outside,’” she says. 

Faith Family Village will be assisted in operational duties by Interfaith Family Shelter, another site serving families experiencing homelessness in Snohomish County. Roxana says the village will offer services focusing on development for both parents and children: obtaining proper identification; enrollment in financial and rental certification programs; applications for housing vouchers; opportunities to volunteer at the food bank as a reference for future employment; after school tutoring; meals and chore sharing; and even family fun nights to foster a sense of community. They’ll also have interactive learning opportunities like cultivating a fruit and vegetable garden with the direction of local Master Gardeners.  

In the face of so many challenges, Roxana’s sunny outlook and passion eclipses any notion of giving up in the face of adversity. And she has a message for anyone else who wants to provide a glimpse of hope for their unsheltered neighbors, even if it seems unattainable: 

“I would say you should go for your dreams and help all the people that you can,” she says. “Because doing all that brings more joy to you than you can ever imagine. You can do it. You should try. And the thing I’m looking forward to now is spreading family villages everywhere.” 

Living in the Rapid Shelter Columbia village, Jeffrey says he finds peace in the village’s safety, and the work program he’s involved in has made him more independent to embark on a new journey. 

Before moving into Columbia’s shelter village, Jeffrey Hoover spent much of the past two years trying to find a safe place to rest, moving between a temporary congregate shelter and sleeping outside.  

During a period staying behind the library, he learned from another unhoused neighbor about the village being built nearby. He connected with a social worker in the library and made it a priority to move in as soon as he could. 

“I went the very next day, because he told me on a Sunday,” he says. “Monday morning, I was there, sharp.” 

He says sleeping outside had a feeling of freedom, where he could see the stars and breathe the air. But he constantly felt worried about his safety—either being harmed by the elements or arrested for simply living his life in public. Staying in the village has made him feel more secure. 

“I really love being here,” he says. “Because number one, it’s safe. Number two, when I was outside sleeping, I was always worrying about, ‘I gotta use the bathroom, where can I go?’” 

With the help of his case worker, Jeffrey was hired to help run the village itself with custodial and watch duties. He feels like it’s helping him find structure and represents a link to finding permanent housing. 

“It has made me sharper,” he says. “It has made me more dependable, independent. And because of the kind of person that I am, I know that this job one day will fade out because I'm looking for something even better and bigger. And I’ll find a place one day soon that I can call home.” 

In the wake of natural disaster, an inclusive range of shelter and housing models is critical to meet the immediate needs of every displaced individual.

Following destructive events like hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires, large populations are suddenly displaced from their homes and forced to find refuge wherever it is available. People are often directed to arenas, schools, community centers, or other public buildings to find a safe place to stay—at least for the night.

What comes after this stage is filled with uncertainty. To fully understand the landscape of shelter and housing options in the wake of natural disaster, it’s important to consider that each community has diverse needs. Examining the scope of housing models and offering equitable aid to displaced populations lays the groundwork for sustainable recovery.

Read on to learn the language and timeline of the Post-Disaster Housing Continuum.

1. Post-Disaster Housing Continuum

The stages of shelter and housing presented on a timeline starting immediately following a destructive event. From emergency shelter models to the prospect of rebuilding permanent housing, the path of the continuum follows a displaced person’s housing journey after an emergency.

Each stage offers specific benefits and are either based on existing infrastructure or constructed for the specific purpose of sheltering disaster survivors.

2. Emergency Preparedness

Before a disaster occurs, communities can build resilience through comprehensive preparedness planning. This includes drafting plans for staffing emergency response teams, arranging amenities such as food provision and hygiene facilities, and stockpiling rapidly deployable emergency shelter options that can be used to accommodate both responders and displaced communities.

This stage is fundamental to create true resilience, equipping cities to recover more quickly and effectively in the wake of disaster.

3. Emergency Congregate Shelter

Perhaps the most familiar of post-disaster shelter models, this stage is occupied in the days (or even hours) following an event or evacuation order. Stadiums, gymnasiums, and other large public buildings are used to rapidly shelter large groups of displaced people under one roof.

While effective at providing a space for large populations, this stage tends to present high barriers even when outside conditions are unsafe. People with pets and those with specific prior offenses are not permitted to stay in congregate settings, and people with trauma from violence and sexual assault do not feel secure in large, open settings with others.

4. Interim (Recovery) Shelter

Individual interim shelters can be deployed and assembled rapidly, and communities can be tailored to the needs of specific groups (people with disabilities or medical needs, first responders, relief workers, etc.). This model is best suited for the weeks and months following a natural disaster when permanent housing is rebuilt.

Although a crucial part of the continuum due to its versatility and ability to centralize supportive services, this stage is often overlooked and underutilized in post-disaster scenarios.

5. Temporary Housing

Forms of this stage of the continuum can range from hotels to RVs and are intended to serve displaced populations in varied timelines: depending on the extent of the rebuild period and the economic status of the person affected, temporary housing could be occupied in the weeks or even months following a disaster.

While more viable than congregate shelter for most people, this model has the potential to turn into long-term housing that isn’t dignified. When existing infrastructure like hotels are converted to temporary housing, these spaces are costly and cannot be used for visitors or tourists, which can adversely affect the recovery of local economies.

6. Long-Term Recovery Shelter

This model leverages temporary, rapidly implementable structures built on private property to serve displaced individuals, families, or workforces rebuilding permanent housing.

Allowing people to stay on their own properties while rebuilding their homes is often the most ideal solution to keep residents within their communities and looking toward the future. Units that can be quickly built and later disassembled as needed is an effective way to foster a path to long-term recovery.

7. Permanent Housing

Providing attainable, stable permanent housing for every person is of course the ultimate goal following destructive events. However, this stage cannot be reached immediately, and even when permanent housing is rebuilt, opportunities are often stratified based on socioeconomic standing. There is no linear path for every individual to reach long-term stability.

The need for urgent and dignified shelter and housing models following natural disasters highlights the necessity of every stage of the continuum preceding permanent housing. A range of equitable options is crucial for long-term recovery—and resilient communities can only be built when these basic needs are met for every person.

To learn more about how to serve the diverse needs of disaster survivors, download our Post-Disaster Housing Continuum Infographic.

Michael’s time in Columbia’s Pallet village has given him the chance to focus on himself, his goals of becoming a business owner, and starting his new journey. 

Michael served in the Army for 18 years and returned home to Columbia when a house fire claimed the lives of his mother, father, aunt, uncle, and two children. After this devastating loss, he had nowhere to call home. Insurance didn’t cover the tragedy he had sustained. 

He temporarily bounced between different local homeless shelters, struggling with depression and turning to alcohol and substances. It was at one of the shelters where a fellow guest told him about the Pallet village being built nearby. 

Michael says moving into the village has given him stability to rebuild his life. 

“I’m finding myself,” he says. “I made some slips and falls, but I’m eager to get right back up. I'm mainly right now focused on how I can get back to where I need to be in life. Not where I was, but where I need to be.” 

Working with his case manager, Michael is making steps to securing documents that were lost like an ID, birth certificate, and social security card to get approved for permanent housing. When he moves out of the village, he hopes to own and operate an auto shop—he already has experience in the field and an automotive service excellence (ASE) certificate. 

After experiencing trauma, Michael still needs time to recover and stabilize. But he says living in the Pallet village and having his own shelter has given him peace of mind: he’s attending counseling for his depression and starting to see the potential for positive change ahead. 

“You know, like I was telling a lot of people, life is like a noun,” he says. “You have to change people, faces, and things in order to get a better outlook on your life. And for my aspect of looking out, I want to see a brighter future for myself.” 

He has hope that a new life is waiting for him once he transitions out of the village. 

“In five years, I want to own my own home and have my own business,” Michael says. “With a new family. I see that promise.” 

Learn more about the Rapid Shelter Columbia village by reading our case study. 

Understanding the link between equitable housing and public safety plays a key role in building safer, healthier, and more successful communities.

Housing is at the crux of many systems that compose a functional society, from healthcare to infrastructure. But even with decades of research proving the innate connection between stable, equitable housing options and public safety, conversations on the subject often overlook this significant relationship. On the contrary, many people believe the myth that some models of shelter and housing actually increase crime in surrounding areas.

Evidence shows these claims are false. When an inclusive range of shelter and housing options are offered to every community member, an abundance of positive effects can be observed: crimes committed by unsheltered populations out of desperation are significantly decreased; the cycle of incarceration and homelessness can be broken; and public costs are drastically reduced.

Recognizing the inherent link between housing and public safety and investing in a range of options that fit everyone’s needs has the power to make our communities safer, stronger, and more sustainable.

The Housing Inequity-Crime Connection

It is widely understood that crime does not exist in a vacuum: a number of environmental, social, and economic factors all contribute to the root causes of why people commit crimes. The fact that crime is more prevalent in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and areas with higher rates of unsheltered homelessness illustrates how a lack of access to stable housing is at the core of the issue.

Higher crime rates have been associated with neighborhoods that experience poverty, residential segregation, and a lack of essential resources like good jobs, schools, and healthcare facilities. These disparities can be linked back to practices like redlining, which represent historical institutional oppression and racism that siloed equitable housing and services to more advantaged areas. When people living in these areas are denied access to attainable housing and resources, they are incentivized to commit crimes as a means of survival.

Poor land use practices, foreclosures, and vacancies also affect crime in these neighborhoods. One study found that in Pittsburgh, crime increased 19% within 250 feet of a foreclosed home once it became vacant, and continued to rise as it sat unoccupied. Examples like this could be avoided in the future by using similar lots for development of supportive housing or subsidized market rate housing.

It’s also crucial to consider that in cases of violent crimes, vulnerable populations are much more likely to be victims than suspects. Homeless people are targeted in hate crimes at double the rate of crimes based on religion, race, or disabilities. Unsheltered women specifically disproportionately experience violent assault like rape, causing lasting trauma and suffering that creates a new set of challenges in living in communal settings like congregate shelter.

Therefore, when people have stable places to live, they are less likely to commit or fall victim to crime, creating safer communities in the process.

Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration

The reality of laws criminalizing homelessness—or attaching serious charges to minor, nonviolent offenses like loitering, panhandling, and littering—is further proof that people are expected to have secure housing and not live their life in public. This is a serious challenge, considering a nationwide shortage of 7.3 million affordable rental units.

Statistics on the disparity of homeless individuals being arrested for low-level offenses is alarming. Although homeless communities represent less than 2% of the population in cities like Portland, Sacramento, and Los Angeles, they accounted for 50%, 42%, and 24% of total arrests from 2017-2020, respectively.

And once a person enters the prison system, regardless of their offense, it makes them significantly more vulnerable to living unsheltered: formerly incarcerated people are 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public. This is especially concerning when one considers the fact that one in every three Americans has a criminal record.

Upon release from the system, formerly incarcerated people face numerous challenges in securing appropriate housing. The inability to make rent, stigmatization from landlords, and barring those with drug offenses from public housing are just a few common obstacles. By lowering these barriers, along with focusing on new inclusive housing and subsidized market rate developments, the prison-homelessness cycle can be effectively broken and improve public safety in the process.

Investing in Housing as Public Safety

The overall costs of policing, corrections, courts, and other reactive measures associated with public safety far outweigh national investment in housing and community development.

While the nearly $260 billion annual budget of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shows a concerted effort to fund more affordable housing and assistance programs, it pales in comparison to the price of operating the criminal legal system. When accounting for indirect economic effects of crime (property destruction and vandalism, utilization of healthcare and emergency services, forgone wages, etc.), the broader societal cost of the criminal legal system is estimated to equal $1.2 trillion.

Creating Safer, More Resilient Communities

There is undeniable proof that providing equitable, attainable housing is a guaranteed pathway to improving public safety. By incorporating this understanding into the development of new shelter and housing programs and acknowledging that the two concepts are inextricable from each other, we can make progress to end unsheltered homelessness and build safer, more successful communities as a result.

To learn more about the impacts of housing on public safety outcomes, download our Housing as Public Safety White Paper.

Even while cities face challenges in opening new shelter villages, there are various methods to overcome them and aid vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness. 

Many cities that aim to address their unsheltered homelessness crises see the benefits of interim shelter villages but face barriers in opening new sites. After encountering a wide variety of obstacles in our work with cities across the country, we can share our successes navigating these difficulties as a blueprint for any municipality aiming to provide equitable shelter for their vulnerable communities. 

Whether it’s community opposition, trouble accessing funding, finding proper potential sites, or issues concerning infrastructure and zoning ordinances, our Community Development team is well-versed in finding tailored solutions for each city’s unique challenges.  

We have found successful techniques to overcome many different barriers, but the following three arise the most frequently. Read on to learn how a diverse set of cities have succeeded in opening their own Pallet village despite adverse conditions. 

Barrier 1: Accessing and Obtaining Funding 

One of the first concerns that arises when considering building a Pallet shelter village is a simple question: how will we fund it? 

Navigating funding options presents its own set of challenges, but we have seen villages built across the country utilizing a spectrum of different sources, from federal assistance programs to private donations. Some examples include: 

1. Federal Level Funding Sources 

• American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) 
• Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) 

2. Local Municipality and State Government Funding 

• State Funding 
• County Auditor Funds 
• City Funds 

3. Grants and Contributions from Private Sources 

• Regional Housing Trusts 
• Donations from private foundations, philanthropic organizations, corporations, and local donors 
• Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Grant (HHAP) 

While all of these are viable funding sources, we have also seen cities successfully combine funding from each level, and in the process, aid their unsheltered populations with appropriate urgency. 

Barrier 2: Zoning and Land Use Challenges 

Finding suitable and affordable land to build an interim shelter village can be a daunting task without assistance. But by working with local government boards, involving the community, and approaching land use challenges creatively, we have helped bring many Pallet shelter villages to life. 

The following illustrate a few examples of how cities have overcome this specific barrier: 

1. Working with Legislature 

One city sidestepped legal barriers by passing a city council vote to exempt a proposed site from specific building and zoning codes—while ensuring safety by working with the fire marshal during site development. 

2. Collaboration and Community Education 

We witnessed a success story that involved creating an open forum composed of shelter organizations, community groups, landowners, and neighbors. By holding an open dialogue between all stakeholders in public meetings and coming to a solution that worked for everyone, the city was able to integrate a Pallet village into an existing residential neighborhood. 

3. Identifying Emergency Laws 

Being aware of emergency land use laws has helped shelter communities develop over a significantly quicker timeline: by classifying unsheltered homelessness as the crisis that it is, we have seen cities provide essential shelter and supportive services with urgency. 

4. Creative Land Use 

Creatively recategorizing property types has been another avenue of overcoming this particular barrier. One city even implemented a creative land classification to bring shelter and warmth to their unsheltered community right before the harsh cold of winter arrived. 

While these solutions to these problems may not be self-evident, our Community Development team is adept and experienced in surmounting land use and zoning hurdles. 

Barrier 3: Gaining Community Support 

Community opposition often stands in the way of successfully building new shelter villages. We have found that by establishing an open line of communication between local governments and the public and providing education about the benefits of interim shelter, staunch opposition can often be transformed into outspoken support. 

Some methods that have produced positive outcomes by engaging the community include: 

1. Alleviate concerns through education and disproving myths. 

Common concerns surrounding new shelter villages are often based on the fear that these developments will increase crime and decrease neighboring property values. Providing facts to prove the opposite is true—such as data showing crime rates decreasing in areas surrounding new sites—can often spur a collective change of opinion. 

2. Host a village open house. 

Demonstrating the inherent dignity and safety of Pallet villages has proven to be a boon to gaining community support: we have seen multiple cities host open houses where city leaders and heads of local organizations will stay in a shelter overnight to exhibit its potential in helping vulnerable people reintegrate and transition to permanent housing. 

3. Include the community in the decision-making process. 

Ideas like creating a website to keep the public updated on crucial information and resources regarding a potential village or hosting community meetings that allow neighbors to voice their opinion has helped support efforts to develop new sites in various locations. 

Interim shelter plays a crucial role in providing people with a stepping stone toward permanent housing, and examples like Pallet villages with onsite supportive services meet diverse needs of different displaced populations. And even while the model is proven to be an important part of resilient communities, city leaders are often impeded in the process. 

Learn more about how Pallet’s Community Development team can help you maneuver barriers regarding funding, zoning and land use, and community opposition by reading our case studies. 

Recognizing housing as an essential piece of infrastructure not only increases equitable opportunities for vulnerable communities: it contributes to our resilience and progress as a country. 

Housing and infrastructure are two seemingly distinct domains, yet understanding their interconnectedness is crucial to shape the  progress of a nation. While infrastructure programs often conjure ideas of highways, bridges, and public utilities, housing is a cornerstone of this broader framework—not just a basic human need—and must be recognized as such. 

Affordable and attainable housing contributes to the overall development and prosperity of a nation. According to recent studies, the U.S. has a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes for individuals with extremely low incomes, and no state has an adequate supply of affordable units to meet these growing needs. Coupled with the 19 million American renters who spent 30% or more of their income on housing costs, it’s apparent that the U.S. is experiencing social instability and economic disparity. 

The Infrastructure Improvements and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed into law in 2021 outlines a plan  to increase the country’s competitiveness and invest in communities that have too often been left behind. Yet no part of this plan addresses the severity of chronic housing issues. If people are not housed, then the government and taxpayers cannot actualize the most fundamental benefits of any infrastructure investment. 

Benefits of Investing in Housing as Infrastructure 

Investing in housing as a component of infrastructure programs is a well-rounded approach to fostering an equitable and prosperous society and maximizes the return on costly infrastructure spending. This strategy can result in a myriad of positive environmental, social, and economic benefits, each playing a pivotal role in developing resilient and thriving communities at the local, state, and national levels. 

Environmental Impacts 

Low-income households, often residing in environmentally vulnerable areas, face greater challenges in relocating or rebuilding after disasters. By emphasizing low-income housing development projects that incorporate energy-efficient and sustainable features, we can enhance resilience to extreme weather and climate change impacts while also curbing greenhouse gas emissions—key ideas outlined in the IIJA. 

Furthermore, these housing initiatives promote smart urban planning, reducing urban sprawl and thus preserving natural landscapes and biodiversity for a more sustainable future. 

Social Impacts 

Investing in housing infrastructure is a critical tool in the fight against homelessness, offering affordable housing options and support services that can substantially improve the lives of vulnerable populations. These investments also relieve the strain on social services, as stable housing promotes independence and reduces reliance on public assistance and health programs, thus leading to increased community well-being and public health. 

Housing investments are also aligned with the goals of the U.S. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which holds jurisdiction over U.S. infrastructure and aims to strengthen community bonds, foster economic growth, enhance mobility, and promote equity by improving access to essential services. Yet without official acknowledgement from government entities that housing is infrastructure, this shared goal will perpetually be divided in resources and minimal in effectiveness. 

Economic Impacts 

From an economic standpoint, housing infrastructure is an engine for growth and productivity, which the IIJA aims to achieve. Housing infrastructure supports the bill’s efforts to create jobs during the construction and maintenance phases of housing projects and further boosts local economies by leveraging public and private resources to generate income and tax revenue. Moreover, the reduction in homelessness leads to cost savings in healthcare, emergency services, and welfare programs that ultimately reduce the tax burden on individuals and businesses. 

Moving Forward 

The state of our current housing landscape reflects the state of our society: A fractured housing system undermines our ability to function as a cohesive and prosperous nation and fully reap the benefits of expensive infrastructure programs. Without sufficient housing infrastructure, we jeopardize the stability and functionality of our communities, impeding our collective progress and prosperity. 

To truly advance as a society and address the prevalent issues of homelessness and housing instability, we must recognize housing as an essential component of our nation's infrastructure and ensure every individual has a secure place to call home. Only then can our nation operate as a prosperous and resilient collective. 

To learn more about the impacts and benefits of housing in federal and state infrastructure programs, download our Housing as Infrastructure White Paper. 

After living for years unsheltered in a local park, Dawn is taking steps toward more permanent housing with the support of the City Net team at Chula Vista’s Pallet village. 

For several years, Dawn and her partner had to be resourceful for basic necessities like bathing and keeping personal possessions safe. They lived in a tent in a local park, using a hose hooked up to the sink of a public restroom to take showers. 

Even while working, she fought to keep her belongings secure. 

“I’ve actually had people steal my personal property from my job,” she says. “There are people out there you think you can trust, and then there are people that you would no way want to trust.” 

Dawn describes her partner Miguel as being her safety net for a long time. They moved from Kansas out to California, where she grew up, and stuck together for many years. 

“I just went wherever he went,” Dawn recalls. “I felt safe and comfortable with him. And I do have a love for him, but the love in the beginning was a lot stronger.” 

Dawn explains that Miguel lives with bipolar disorder and ADHD, and his struggles managing these conditions put a strain on their relationship. After being offered shelters in Chula Vista’s new Pallet site by workers from San Diego’s Alpha Project Outreach Team, their bond began to falter, and Miguel moved out of the village.  

Now Dawn is looking to the future, working with her onsite case manager to overcome barriers to secure permanent housing. She faces a number of challenges that were too much to tackle alone while working and keeping herself safe: medical debts from over a decade ago that have gone to collections; not having an option to obtain private health insurance through her job but earning just too much to qualify for Medicaid; replacing her lost social security card; and rebuilding her credit score to qualify for an affordable rental. 

“A lot of the rental properties want a score of 650 or above, and my credit’s not that great,” she says. “The accounts that are out there causing my score to be so low are 12-year-old hospital bills. And then they say, ‘If you don’t have this, we can’t qualify you.’ It’s just aggravating.” 

The team at City Net have already helped Dawn to check some of these items off her list. They provided transportation to the social security office to replace her lost card, are working to pay off old bills to improve her credit, and have obtained a housing voucher that would allow her to find her own place. 

“I’ve been going online and everything looking for a place as well,” she says. “And the other day, we went out driving around trying to see if we could find places.” 

Surmounting challenges like these is made extremely difficult without a safe and comfortable place to stay. Dawn is one of the first residents at the Chula Vista Bridge Shelter, and after just a few months of being offered an ecosystem of support, she’s already heading in the right direction. 

To find out how the city of Chula Vista came together to build the Bridge Shelter and aid their unhoused neighbors, download our case study. 

It’s proven that stable housing has positive effects on physical and mental well-being. By cultivating inclusive shelter and housing models for vulnerable populations, we can alleviate pressure on taxpayers and providers while fostering healthier communities. 

Housing is often considered a separate entity from concepts like healthcare and essential infrastructure, even with abundant data proving otherwise. When communities have access to sustainable, suitable shelter and housing options, they not only demonstrate better health outcomes, but also reduce economic strain. A study conducted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows that taxpayers spend an average of $35,578 per year on each person experiencing chronic homelessness, but when this same population is provided with stable housing, these costs reduce by an average of 49.5%. 

This study along with years of other research all show the same outcome: every aspect that contributes to the larger picture of well-being is impacted by the lack of a stable living environment. Physical and mental health, preventative care, chronic disease management, and access to healthcare services are all intrinsically tied to adequate and equitable housing opportunities. 

Physical Health 

Protection from variable weather, consistent access to hygiene facilities, and good air quality are all traits of satisfactory housing that are easily taken for granted. However, a lack of access to these basic needs can have a profound impact on physical well-being, especially when compounded by conditions like respiratory disease and symptoms stemming from substance use disorder that are common among homeless communities. 

Constant exposure to extreme weather also puts unsheltered populations at risk. Hypothermia, heat stroke, and other weather-related conditions are immediate threats, and crowded, unsanitary living conditions increase the likelihood of spreading infectious diseases along with food- and waterborne illnesses. 

Mental Health 

Unstable living conditions are also detrimental to mental well-being. The stress of being unhoused is an observed precursor to the development of anxiety, depression, and self-harming ideations. A lack of safety, particularly with survivors of physical or sexual assault, is also a contributor to other mental health conditions. 

This susceptibility to these challenges, along with the provision of a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) that equates to just 18% of the median national income, can also in many cases act as a catalyst to developing substance use disorder. Although many think that substance use is a common cause of homelessness, the social adaptation model shows this to be a misconception: many people struggle with destructive substance dependencies only after experiencing the harsh reality of living unsheltered. 

Preventative Care 

A markedly higher dependence on emergency rooms in homeless populations is rooted in lower utilization of preventative care. When people forgo routine procedures like vaccinations, check-ups, and screenings, they default to the ER when any health concerns arise – usually due to symptoms that could easily be mitigated. 

The cause of this can be attributed to the barriers unsheltered groups face: without a permanent address, reliable contact details, or dependable transportation, establishing a primary care provider and obtaining necessary medications becomes significantly more difficult than it is for those with stable housing. 

Chronic Disease Management 

Effectively managing chronic conditions is another aspect of health adversely affected by housing instability. Even though 30% of people experiencing homelessness live with ongoing disabilities (compared to 13% of the general population), the lack of preventative care and precursors to physical and mental health issues make these vulnerable groups far less likely to successfully engage in necessary self-care and medication adherence. 

Continuous monitoring, attendance to therapy sessions, and participating in the creation of specialized care plans are more likely to happen when a patient is in stable housing. This points to why homeless individuals are reported as having higher rates of illnesses like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes than their housed counterparts. 

Access to Healthcare Services 

Without a permanent address, it’s exceedingly difficult to obtain health insurance; without health insurance, it’s nearly impossible to pay for even routine medical care. Unhoused individuals are statistically less likely to have any health insurance, restricting access to vital services. 

The perpetuation of historically classist and racist practices like redlining also plays a part in availability of healthcare facilities. Low-income and marginalized neighborhoods are commonly not in close proximity to quality hospitals and healthcare professionals, further constraining reliable means for care. 

With evidence illustrating the clear link between housing and healthcare, it’s time to recognize the positive effects stable shelter and housing has on the health of our communities. Innovative models like the Pallet shelter village in Boston show the power of bridging the gaps in housing disparities and championing equitable healthcare access for everyone. 

To learn more about the role stable shelter and housing plays in the overall well-being of your city, download our Housing as Healthcare White Paper.  

After building a life for himself, Dave lost everything to addiction. Now, he wants to remind anyone struggling that there’s always hope to break the cycle – and he’s grateful for every day. 

Early on, Dave had already made his own way in life. He started his manufacturing career with Boeing at age 20, got married, had three children, and bought a home for his family. After achieving all this and growing up in a large family in Everett with good relationships with his parents and siblings, it might come as a surprise to hear what was going through his mind at the hospital on May 12^th, 2019. 

“I was 100% resigned I was gonna die in my addiction,” he recalls. “But then that moment of clarity, that spiritual awakening, that epiphany, whatever you want to call it, hit me in there. I’m like, ‘this is not gonna be my legacy that I died with a f***ing needle in my arm sitting in the hospital. I’m gonna fight this,’ you know? And I did. And I appreciate every single day.” 

After 20 years manufacturing commercial jet body structures, providing for his family, and caring for his wife who lived with lupus, Dave had surgery when he suffered a broken ankle and torn ligaments in 2004. He was prescribed Percocet and oxycontin for the pain. 

It didn’t take long for a serious dependency to take hold. “I am ‘that guy’ that took too many pain pills,” Dave says. “I was eating them like crazy and I got the opiate bug. I battled that pill addiction for quite a while.” 

Five years later he entered a detox program for the first time. Once off his suboxone treatment, Dave quickly began using oxycontin again by 2010. Shortly following this his struggle with addiction was compounded by personal tragedy, and the life he knew began to unravel. 

Dave’s brother Michael passed away suddenly that year. Two months later, his best friend of 28 years committed suicide. His opiate use increased, and his marriage was under considerable strain. 

“I went off the rails,” he says. “I slipped into drug addiction so bad. Things just started to absolutely fall apart.” 

Dave remembers the day he was fired from Boeing – July 10^th, 2011. He was already having trouble keeping up with his mortgage payments before losing his job and was separated from his wife. He lost the house shortly thereafter. After moving into a condo in nearby Lake Stevens for a short stint, he was evicted due to spending his rent money on heroin and meth. 

“It’s crazy how much time goes by and how quickly things decline,” Dave says. “And I mean, I’m talking super quick: by the fall of 2013, I was homeless.” 

Sustaining his heroin and meth use became Dave’s only responsibility. His first felony charge came in 2014, which led to a number of others. Running from DOC warrants, shirking court-ordered treatment programs, and multiple prison sentences are all part of Dave’s prolonged involvement in the criminal legal system. Experiencing these periods of forced sobriety and the desire to quit weren’t enough to put an end to his addiction.  

He tells a story of being in custody and thinking he had broken through mentally: “I think about it now, how powerful drug addiction really is. I mean, in 90 days, I was president of my group, I was so involved in everything there. I thought, ‘Man, I got this.’ I was using drugs a week and a half after I left there. That quick. It’s just brutal.” 

During this time, Dave had resigned to a life on the streets. He never leaned on his family, too ashamed to ask for help. He had convinced himself that this was what he deserved. 

“[I thought] This is where I belong,” he says. “I belong out here suffering. I hated myself so much for the person I had become, leaving my kids, my family.” 

The turning point came when Dave became extremely sick with symptoms stemming from his substance use. He was in so much back pain he could barely walk. His girlfriend at the time insisted that he admit himself to the ER, threatening to involve his dad if he refused. 

Screaming out in pain going through an MRI, Dave was told he was experiencing sepsis from MRSA (a type of staph bacteria that has become immune to antibiotics) and two internal abscesses on his spinal cord. Dave spent six and a half weeks in the hospital detoxing and recovering. 

The day he admitted himself to the hospital was the last day Dave used drugs. From that point on, he’s spent all his time rebuilding his life: serving time for the remainder of his felony offenses; re-entering the workforce; reconnecting with his family, namely his daughter and son; and focusing on his recovery program. 

Dave started working at Pallet in January 2022, and describes it as a perfect environment being around coworkers who are on a similar path.  

“I love this place, the whole culture here is just amazing,” he says. “It’s been awesome for my recovery. It’s just a great place to work, and everybody here is so supportive.” 

Dave shares his story openly and earnestly, with what many would consider brutal honesty. Everyone at Pallet knows him for these qualities. His work ethic and attitude led him to a position as Pallet’s customer service representative after working on the manufacturing floor, giving him the responsibilities of coordinating with village service providers, fielding inquiries from people experiencing homelessness, and gracing the office with the sound of his booming laugh. 

“To be standing here today, I’ve got a story to share, and I’m just trying to help people,” he says. “It’s like I’ve said before: I went through a lot of s***, but I really honestly believe that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.” 

By creating custom work plans tailored to the unique challenges faced by city leaders in Northglenn, CO and Huntington, WV, Pallet’s PathForward team proves that solving unsheltered homelessness is only possible by addressing the root causes. 

Pallet’s PathForward homelessness advisory services was created to aid cities in identifying their unique homelessness crises and developing plans to directly address their root causes. As part of the National League of Cities’ Capstone Challenge, the PathForward team partnered with Huntington, WV, and launched a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) to assist the city’s most vulnerable community members. 

Mere months after the CIT was established with the help of local public health experts, first responders, and city leaders, it has become an integral part of Huntington’s homelessness response network. The city was awarded with the 2023 United States Conference of Mayor’s Grant for Police Reform and Equitable Justice, using the $75,000 to buy a vehicle used as a “lifeline on wheels” and continue to fund the CIT Co-Responders team. 

1,300 miles away in Adams County, CO, the city of Northglenn confronted different barriers in effectively resolving their homelessness crisis. While city officials had already implemented programs to aid Adams County’s homeless population, they encountered obstacles connecting to Colorado’s larger governing bodies and scaling solutions already put into place on a city level. 

In February 2022, PathForward stepped in and set a plan in motion to facilitate the development of emergency shelters—aiming to provide refuge for Northglenn’s homeless residents and help them in the transition to more permanent housing solutions. This endeavor took many steps including identifying viable sites, finding suitable service providers, and ultimately presenting the plan to Colorado leaders working to end homelessness. 

Pallet introduced PathForward because there is no one solution to end homelessness: each municipality and community have their own specific needs. We are motivated to utilize our experience building interim shelter villages and coordinating with service providers across the country (and now Canada) to help cities cultivate better solutions to fit their diverse needs. 

Download the following case studies to learn more about our work in Huntington and Northglenn. To read about our services and how we can assist your city in ending unsheltered homelessness, visit our PathForward page. 

After five months in and out of the hospital managing multiple chronic health conditions, Fred Myers was uncertain of his next steps. 

“My situation became where I was a bit homeless. I was in the hospital at that point, and after I got out, I didn’t know where I was gonna go,” he says. 

The staff in his doctor’s office heard about Rapid Village Columbia and learned Fred would be eligible to become a resident of the village. With the solitude of a private shelter, support staff to help him obtain the medicines he needs, and the companionship of his emotional support dog, Thunder, things started to look up. 

“You know, having a roof over your head, it makes it a lot easier,” Fred says. “Having three meals a day makes it a lot easier. And having a support team makes it incredibly easier. Just knowing that you'll have staff members willing to support you in every facet, be it clothing, be it food, be it transportation. It makes everything a little bit more bearable instead of it being so hard.” 

As part of job placement and engagement programs in the village, Fred is attending weekly Bible studies and working with the local Goodwill for job placement and education advancement opportunities. In addition to participating in these programs to fulfill his goal of becoming an entrepreneur, he’s working with his case manager to find permanent housing. 

“Before this program, I kind of lost sight of that, but it's helping me rebuild the situations where I feel more confident in myself,” he says. “And it's helping me become a stronger man.” 

But his favorite part about living in the village? 

“Oh my gosh. My favorite thing? That has to be only one thing? Actually, I think my favorite thing is the community. Close knit. And having neighbors is awesome. We’re close enough to get to know each other and become very good friends. So, creating friendships and new paths has really been a venture for me.” 

With supportive services, his own private space to rest, and the restorative power of community in the village, Fred is optimistic about transitioning out of his shelter and what the future brings. 

“It's so awesome to me, if you come in the program, you take full advantage of it, you're going to get everything out of it that it’s meant to give,” he says. “I am the change I want to be. I’m not going backwards.” 

Rapid Shelter Columbia, a Pallet shelter village serving 50 people experiencing chronic homelessness, opened just 70 days after plans were announced.

Read more about breaking ground on the site and cultivating community in Columbia

 

Addiction has become ingrained and unavoidable in the broader conversation about homelessness. It is common to blame drug and alcohol use on why people lose their housing, even with abundant data suggesting otherwise: a study found that while 91% of the general public believed drug use to be the cause of homelessness in young populations, only 10% of participants with lived experience said this was accurate.   

While substance use is undoubtedly a prevalent issue for many people experiencing homelessness, it is rarely the sole factor leading to a loss of housing—in fact, studies have proven that dependencies on drugs, alcohol, or both are not direct causes of homelessness.   

The order of causation is often confused and oversimplified. In reality, when people lose their housing due to financial hardship or relationship issues, the harsh environment of living unsheltered can act as a catalyst to developing substance use disorder.  

This disconnect between perception and reality is due to the broad stigmatization of substance use, and a troubling lack of understanding around social determinants of health (SDOH), intergenerational poverty, insufficient mental health services, mass incarceration, and systemically racist practices like redlining.  

 To truly help our unhoused neighbors, it’s essential to challenge the mischaracterization and stigma of substance use and examine the root causes of homelessness—which go far beyond addiction and are deeply entrenched in political and socioeconomic systems.  

  

The role of racism and marginalization  

 An overwhelming amount of evidence clearly illustrates how marginalized social groups (such as people of color, indigenous people, and the LGBTQIA+ community) experience homelessness at disproportionately high rates.  

Even though Black people make up 13% of our country’s population, they comprise 40% of homeless Americans. This can be traced back to structurally racist practices like redlining and blockbusting, which rose to prominence with the National Housing Act of 1934. These effectively prohibited potential homebuyers who were Black from securing loans or mortgages and artificially inflated property values after driving people out of historically white neighborhoods, and, in turn, caused intergenerational poverty that still resonates today.    

Disparately high rates of homelessness caused by historical traumas are also felt by indigenous communities including American Indians and Alaska Natives. These populations face unique and lasting challenges that stem from legislation signed into law nearly 200 years ago: a mistrust in the federal government, a severe lack of funding for affordable housing, and skewed data that leads to inequitable resources are just a few examples that contribute to imbalanced rates of unsheltered homelessness in indigenous communities.   

Discrimination also has profound effects on the LGBTQIA+ community. Family rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are common experiences that lead to feelings of ostracization and abandonment. A 2021 study shows the effects of this marginalization: 17% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults and 30% of transgender adults experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, compared to 6% of the U.S. population. Younger people are even more vulnerable. In 2022, 28% of LGBTQIA+ youth reported experiencing homelessness or housing instability.  

  

The revolving door of incarceration and homelessness  

 Beginning with sweeping, punitive “tough on crime” laws that were enacted in the 1970s in response to an uptick in violent crime, the U.S. is still today one of the world’s largest jailers. Even after statistics of these targeted heinous crimes decreased, the prison system incarcerated more and more people for committing public order crimes like drug use and possession, prostitution, public drinking, gambling, and vagrancy—and gave them longer sentences. Since 1980, the number of people incarcerated for such crimes has risen 1,049%.  

These minor offenses are therefore seen as just cause for incarceration. Once a person exits the prison system, it is remarkably difficult to rebuild a life: jobs and housing will routinely deny applications, which is why formerly incarcerated people are nearly 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public. This vicious cycle is maintained by laws that criminalize homelessness like sleeping in public, panhandling, and public urination.   

 The U.S. prison system causes and perpetuates homelessness by focusing on retributive measures rather than reform and giving people a fair chance at a new life.  

  

Stigmatization and sidelining of mental health services  

 Deinstitutionalization, or the process of closing public psychiatric facilities and moving patients to a model of community health services, is a core part of the discussion around the link between mental illness and homelessness. Although it is inaccurate to attribute this as the sole factor why people living with mental illness end up on the streets, there is no debate that the poor planning in discharging these patients and the dearth of needed supportive services play a significant role.  

 As of 2022, 21.1% of people experiencing homelessness live with mental illness. For people with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and neurodevelopmental issues, having access to stable housing and social services is key—but with an acute scarcity of available affordable housing and lack of publicly funded mental health resources and outreach workers, they are often discharged back onto the streets without regard after visits to the ER or being held in police custody.  

 Ultimately, there are various historical and societal reasons why people experience homelessness, and addiction is simply one issue closely tied to the trauma of living unsheltered. To end the homelessness crisis, we must address these root causes, build a reliable ecosystem of support, and offer compassion and understanding to those who need help—because every person deserves access to a stable and permanent place to call home.  

 

In our Village Voices series, we shine a spotlight on residents living in Pallet shelter villages across the country and give them the chance to share their stories.

Linda Daniels was walking down the street with her bags looking for a place to sleep that night. An outreach worker happened to notice her and asked if she needed help. Within two weeks, she was a resident of the Rapid Shelter Columbia village. 

A month in, Linda says the chance to have her own space to rest, to return to after a long day as a custodial worker at the University of South Carolina, and to collect her thoughts has been pivotal in being able to move forward. 

“It means the world to me, because I got my own space, and I got my own place to where I can call mine right now,” she says. “I like being by myself a lot of times. So if I'm going through something, I can come in my room and think about what I'm going through and try to make things better. And I think this is a wonderful thing.”  

Linda says she became homeless after experiencing family and marriage problems. Her tendencies to put others’ needs before her own made her lose sight of her duties and, in turn, found herself with nowhere to call home. 

“People were drowning around me and I'm trying to save everybody, but at the same time I'm drowning with them because I'm neglecting myself and my responsibilities,” she says. “It tore my heart apart. It really did.” 

The opportunity of living in the village and to recharge in her own space has given Linda an optimistic view of rebuilding her life. She plans on maintaining her job, getting a place of her own, and focusing on her own needs.  

“I’m ecstatic about this,” she says. “Makes me want to cry because if you only knew my whole situation, this is wonderful to me. And my case manager and the people that helped me to get back into my own place means the world to me.” 

She also has some advice for anyone going through a similar situation: 

“I want them to know that when it seems like it’s not working out or it’s turning for the worse, keep moving forward. Don’t stop. No matter what, how bad it looks, how hard it looks like it’s getting, never give up. Never. And that’s why I’m here.” 

Rapid Shelter Columbia, a Pallet shelter village serving 50 people experiencing chronic homelessness, opened just 70 days after plans were announced.

Read more about breaking ground on the site and cultivating community in Columbia

Communities of color and other marginalized groups experience homelessness at disproportionately high rates—a consequence of structural racism and discrimination.

More than a million adults and a similar number of children are impacted by homelessness each year according to the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. From 2020 to 2022 alone, chronic homelessness rose 7.1 percent and unsheltered homelessness 3.4 percent, putting more unhoused people at greater risk.

The data is clear: homelessness is a humanitarian crisis on a vast scale affecting people nationwide. But the disparity with which it affects BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities and other marginalized groups is even greater.  

Structural racism and discrimination create disparities

Data collected by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shows that 11 out of 10,000 White people experienced homelessness in 2022, while the rates of Black Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders were 4 and 11 times higher, respectively. Similar disparities exist to varying degrees among other communities of color and marginalized groups such as LGBTQIA+ Americans.

Decades of discriminatory and racist policies and practices at all levels of government, segregation, and for American Indians and Alaska Natives, forced relocation, have prevented equal opportunity, devalued property, and inhibited intergenerational wealth. This leaves these communities more exposed to housing instability and at greater risk of homelessness.

The impacts of this kind of policymaking are clear across the data on homelessness. Despite comprising a relatively small percentage of the general U.S. population, BIPOC communities and other marginalized groups are overrepresented in the homeless population—three to one for Black Americans and as high as five to one for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

A national survey found that people ages 18 to 25 who identified as LGBTQ+ experienced homelessness at over twice the rate of their heterosexual peers, and nearly a quarter of young Black men ages 18 to 25 who identified as LGBTQ+ reported experiencing homelessness in the previous 12 months.

Putting systems in place to address and eventually reverse the effects of past policies will take time and dedicated partnership at all levels.

Permanent housing alone is not enough

There is no question that we’re in dire need of more affordable permanent housing in this country. Lack of investment has created acute shortages. Meanwhile, wages have not kept pace with housing costs. According to census data, more than 40% of American renters—19 million households—spend over a third of their income on housing. In communities where rent consumes more than 32% income, homelessness will almost certainly continue to rise.

But affordable housing alone won’t end the homelessness crisis. Getting people off the streets and into permanent homes starts with safe, stable transitional shelter and an ecosystem of services capable of providing each person the individual support they need to rebuild their lives. Without the foundation that support builds, people are much more likely to experience homelessness again.

According to AHAR, the number of transitional housing beds in the U.S. fell from roughly 211,000 in 2007 to 86,000 in 2022, a 59 percent drop. However, policymakers are beginning to acknowledge the need for accessible temporary shelter that is dignified and culturally appropriate to the specific needs of the communities.

In fact, the Biden Administration’s All In: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness notes, “The key components to effective emergency shelter include culturally appropriate, gender-affirming, and specific, low-barrier access and housing-focused services aimed at rapid exits back to permanent housing.”

Transitional housing can help

At Pallet, we believe the primary function of temporary housing should be providing a central location to access community services that help people end their unhoused status. This puts the individual on a path of stability with not only a safe place to sleep but also a supportive environment set up to appropriately meet their unique needs. While long-term solutions are put in place, we play a critical role in bridging the gap with immediate transitional housing and connection to wrap-around social services.

Our shelters are a safe and affordable way to quickly shelter historically marginalized groups at particular risk. Our team has extensive end-to-end expertise in the multi-stakeholder process required to create healing transitional shelter villages at speed and scale. We’re also a resource for help securing funding, identifying appropriate sites and housing types, working with community stakeholders, partnering with service providers, and building the shelters onsite.

Pallet’s goal is to empower municipalities to end homelessness. If we understand the unique challenges different communities face, we can find solutions that have a lasting impact.

Read How homelessness impacts the LGBTQ+ community

Homelessness is not just about permanent housing. While affordable housing is certainly part of the answer to the equation, the streets cannot act as a waiting room for those who are unsheltered. Housing alone will not solve our nationwide homelessness crisis. And the federal government agrees. 

At the end of last year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced ALL IN: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, which outlines ways to reduce homelessness by 25 percent by 2025.  One of the focus areas in the plan is helping response systems meet the needs of people who are unhoused and unsheltered. The plan will, “increase the availability of and access to low-barrier, and culturally appropriate shelter, especially non-congregate shelter.” 

The plan also states: “Emergency shelter—both congregate and non-congregate—serves a temporary and life-saving role for people in crisis and should be implemented with as few barriers as possible. The key components to effective emergency shelter include culturally appropriate, gender-affirming, and specific, low-barrier access and housing-focused services aimed at rapid exits back to permanent housing.” 

An ecosystem of support 

We believe housing is a human right but breaking the cycle of homelessness means caring for the person’s individual needs. An ecosystem of support is needed alongside permanent housing to transition people from the streets into safe spaces. That can mean providing access to healthcare, mental health support, counseling, transitional employment, food, and much more.  

If we don’t address the issues that drive chronic homelessness such as a lack of access to social services and the cost and speed of building long-term affordable housing, the cycle will continue. It’s among the reasons why policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels are developing opportunities for emergency and transitional housing. 

Research shows having a safe space improves well-being and health and overall life expectancy, boosts pathways to education and personal development and influences future employment opportunities. The benefits of ending homelessness improve the quality of life for individuals and families in addition to strengthening our cities and towns. You can learn more in our white paper, Responding to Your Local Homelessness Emergency. 

Transitional housing makes a difference 

Pallet has built thousands of safe, secure, and dignified transitional shelter units for people experiencing homelessness across the U.S. with our lived experience workforce. We identify realistic and data-backed approaches to make a meaningful difference. While long-term solutions are put in place, we play a critical role in bridging the gap with immediate transitional housing and connection to wrap-around social services—a proven model for success.  

When temporary shelter sites are operated with adequate support services, we see people take advantage of those services and get the help they need and eventually transition to permanent supportive housing when it becomes available. A recent study that measured the effectiveness of shelter villages for people experiencing homelessness in Oregon found that 69 percent of villagers were satisfied or very satisfied with their village. 

Most importantly, we need to make decisions informed by those with lived experience. This quote from ALL IN: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness from a Portland, Maine area resident who experienced homelessness sums it up best:  

“We can never ever go back to sheltering people as we once did. Too much has changed since this pandemic began. Congregate housing and large shelters didn’t work that well in the first place, did not support the dignity of the homeless as people. The pandemic has shown us clearly that other ways of securing housing—such as hotels, small transitional units, and private low-income housing units—are essential, and more creative thinking needs to be encouraged if we are going to eliminate massive homelessness.”  

Read Why housing is a human right

The first thing Sarah noticed when she came to Pallet was how happy everyone looked. “I was waiting to interview, and I noticed everyone that was coming in seemed to be happy,” she recalls.  “They had a smile. They made eye contact and said hello. I was like: $#%@ people are really happy to be here!” 

After her interview, she was told she got the job and Sarah started as a manufacturing specialist in September ’22. It was the next step on her path to focusing on herself and her recovery.  

Growing up in the Everett, Washington area, Sarah’s childhood was tumultuous. “I didn’t feel safe as a child,” she says. “You pick just about anything, name it, and it happened to me as a child.” She experienced sexual abuse, homelessness and witnessed her parents’ domestic violence growing up.  

Sarah was also in the foster system for a while before her grandmother took her in. “Things didn’t work out there,” she explains. “I was just lashing out.” She’d skip school and was eventually expelled. She went to live with the parents of her then boyfriend. The two would later marry. 

This would be the first of two long-term relationships for Sarah. “I used to be really afraid of being alone and not being in a relationship,” she says. “I had two very long-term relationships—10 years each with my kids’ dads. I have now come to realize I don’t need a man to complete me.” 

When her first marriage ended, Sarah, who had dedicated a decade to her children and husband, didn’t know how to process the breakup. “I found myself feeling lost,” Sarah says. “I didn’t know how to process my feelings in a healthy way, so I ended up using drugs. I emulated the behavior I grew up watching my whole life.”  

Eventually her situation improved, which is when she met her second husband. She had two more girls, but her life became rocky again as she experienced major health issues after her fourth daughter was born. She was also dealing with the death of her brother and marital problems that eventually led to divorce. To deal with her losses, she coped in the only way she knew at the time. “I got lost in methamphetamine–numbing myself to make it go away,” she says. 

By 2019, Sarah had been in and out of the criminal legal system, lost her house and was homeless. Her life continued to be turbulent until she decided in late 2020 that she needed to get treatment, or she was “going to die.” She adds, “as a parent you’d do anything for your kids. You’d kill for your kids; you’d die for your kids. I had to decide to live for my kids.” 

Her first attempt to stay sober wasn’t successful. But then she decided to stay with a childhood friend and enrolled in an intensive outpatient program. She also contacted another friend who had gotten sober through the sheriff’s program. “I called him, and he gave me the numbers of some social workers,” Sarah says. “I called one and within five minutes, I had a sheriff pick me up. That’s the first time I’d been in the back of a sheriff’s car without handcuffs on.” 

Focused on her sobriety, Sarah got housing at a women’s house in North Everett where she has since become the live-in manager. (“I help by leading and being an example for the women in my house,” Sarah notes.)  She also started a part-time job at a cleaning business with a woman in her program. “I just needed something part time to have money,” she says. “My job at the time was working on my recovery, clearing my head and getting that first year under my belt because that’s the hardest.” 

Then her friend Jennifer, who worked at Pallet and was the women’s house live-in manager at the time, encouraged Sarah to apply for a full-time position. Being a Fair Chance Employer is essential to Pallet’s success and helps us empower people like Sarah who can process and problem-solve with compassion, sensitivity, and creativity.   

At first, Sarah wasn’t ready, but after a while she decided it was time. “Coming [to Pallet] was the next right step for me,” she says. “I’ve never had benefits. I’ve never been eligible for a 401K. It makes me proud of myself.” 

Sarah is learning how to deal with stress and not let her self-worth be wrapped up in those around her. “I just focus on what I can do today and not future trip,” she says. “I know I’m going to get there. I see the light at the end of the tunnel now.” 

Pallet is a certified Living Wage Employer

There is no one solution to end homelessness. Every municipality and every community have their own specific needs. While our Pallet villages coupled with wraparound supportive services are a successful model, we understand there are other strategies to address the homelessness crisis. Working closely with cities across the country, we realize communities want to find the right solutions and know our expertise and learnings from deploying over 100 shelter villages could help them drive change. So, we’ve launched PathForward™ homelessness advisory services.  

Pallet’s PathForward provides support for cities to create customized solutions with defined goals and resources like funding roadmaps, implementation plans, policy research, capacity building, partnerships, project management and more. Our service uses data-backed strategies anchored by people with lived experience. Cities can work with Pallet in a variety of ways including long-term partnerships, special projects, and one-off advice. 

As mission-driven problem solvers, we see homelessness as a human-rights crisis necessitating urgent and bold action. PathForward uses wholistic strategies that dig into the intersectional root cause of homelessness. We identify realistic and data-backed approaches to make a meaningful difference.  

“Solving homelessness involves an entire ecosystem of support requiring city officials, service providers and advocates to work together,” says Amy King, CEO, and founder of Pallet. “We’ve supported countless cities addressing homelessness and we are thrilled to formalize our experience and expertise through Pallet’s PathForward to help even more communities, not just with shelter but also with a wholistic, results-driven response.” 

One of the cities we’ve worked with is Huntington, W. Va. The city was experiencing a homelessness crisis that was heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic, and a low-quality, declining housing supply that left city officials with limited solutions. Partnering with city leaders, we identified one of their highest priorities was a non-emergency response for people experiencing homelessness, mental health crisis, or other issues requiring alternative responses and de-escalation. Through the National League of Cities’ Capstone Challenge, PathForward supported Huntington with the implementation of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). The program launches in March 2023.  

“The City of Huntington worked with Pallet through the National League of Cities’ Capstone Challenge to address our challenges with homelessness,” says Huntington Mayor Steve Williams. “I have always found public-private partnerships to be a key component of success for local governments, and our partnership with Pallet was no exception. Their expansive insight, experience, and willingness to do deep dives into this complex issue were a critical reason why we were able to develop and launch a Crisis Intervention Team to assist the most vulnerable individuals of our population.” 

PathForward is backed by data and expertise–we’ve deployed over 100 transitional shelter villages across the U.S. with our lived experience workforce. Pallet has been working with cities since 2016 to provide solutions that are dignified, cost efficient, and effective in ending homelessness. Our team of experts and people with lived experience work with cities to advance compassionate and innovative strategies that fit their needs and empower communities.   

Notes King, “Cities can no longer wait to activate strategies that drive real and lasting change.”  

 

Pallet villages are informed by those with lived experience. This shapes everything we do from our product design and program development to safety and dignity.  

The villages are created to be a transitional steppingstone from unsheltered homelessness to permanent housing. They provide the dignity and security of private units within a community setting. Residents have access to a resource net of on-site social services managed by a local service provider, appointed by the city or county leading the project.  

Pallet approaches safety in several ways. Our shelters are designed to meet or exceed industry building, fire, and safety guidelines, and are independently inspected by local authorities prior to residents moving in. We’ve also worked with village operators, residents, and our team members with lived experience to identify dignity standards we believe should be upheld at any Pallet shelter site. These standards include an on-site service provider to ensure residents have the ongoing support required for their safety and 24/7 security. 

Personal Safety and Dignity 

There are five standards informed by those with lived experience, that should be addressed at any Pallet shelter site supporting those experiencing homelessness or displacement. As well as hygiene facilities, meals, and access to transportation, they also comprise safety and supportive services.   

Security features can include infrastructure with exterior fencing, a locked and monitored point of entry, and adequate lighting. Safety considerations also include fire prevention, sufficient staff properly trained in trauma and/or conflict resolution, and unobstructed pathways. A zero-tolerance policy toward violence, abuse of power sexual harassment/assault, or discrimination of any kind is mandatory in our villages.  

One of the essential safety features of a Pallet shelter is the locking door. When residents are inside their cabin, they can relax and be sure their space can remain private. A locking door also means their personal belongings are safe. When someone is experiencing unsheltered homelessness, there’s always a risk they’ll be asked to move, and it’s challenging to hold onto one’s possessions.  

Pallet villages provide a central location to access community services that help a person end their unhoused status. This starts with case management, social workers and other professionals who can create client-centric plans for getting residents stable housing, health care, employment, and more.  

Weather Protection 

Pallet shelters are equipped to handle wind, snow, and varying climates across the country. Our engineering team has performed numerous tests to ensure we’ve produced a quality product where people are protected.  

Climate Control  
Keeping people comfortable begins with the exterior. The panels of Pallet shelters are white and opaque with a glossy finish. Reflecting sunlight is helpful in the summer. Air conditioning units also help keep the shelters cool. They require less electricity to maintain comfortable interior temperatures due to the reflective nature of the shelter’s exterior. We offer two options including a 6000 BTU AC for extremely hot climates. 

Proper insulation is vital in cold weather and high temperatures. The shelter exterior panels have a foam insulating core. We offer thicker wall and roof insulation, a 4500-watt heater, and insulation under the floor panel as part of a cold-weather package for frigid climates. It maintains a temperature of 70F when outside temperatures drop as low as -20F. 

Wind/Snow 

Tests for windy and snowy conditions show the shelters can withstand 115 mph wind and a 25 lb./sq. ft. snow load for our standard units. Depending on the location, we can also adjust to increase the snow load to 50 lb./sq. ft. and wind to 170 mph. An additional safety feature that comes with every shelter includes a proprietary staking system, which allows the unit to be secured to the ground. 

Fire Safety 

Any structure is susceptible to fire danger. Our team’s construction industry background and knowledge helped in the selection of materials that would be safe for people to reside in, strong enough to weather the elements, and easy to assemble so we can set up villages quickly.  

Pallet shelters are made up of a unique material mix specifically selected for safety, ease of use, and cost efficiency. The panels meet a Class C fire rating. This classification is a measurement of effectiveness against light fire exposure and is standard practice for all residential and commercial structures. Examples of other Class C building materials include hardboard siding panels, plywood, and Masonite. Brick, for example, falls under a Class A rating. There are five classification levels.  

The shelter’s fire rating meets International Building Code requirements as well as local standards in all the 15 states where we currently have villages. Pallet makes fire rating information available before a city moves forward with contracting to build a village. This gives cities time to independently verify that the structures meet local code requirements. After they are assembled, the shelters are also inspected to ensure they meet code and local fire regulations before residents move in.  

These measures, paired with the efforts of local authorities, ensure that cities and counties can build Pallet villages with confidence. 

“Pallet shelters are designed to prioritize safety, and this is a key reason we chose this shelter intervention,” said Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas. “They meet code requirements by the State and City departments, including the Oakland Fire Department.” 

Further, fire safety isn’t solely about materials used. Another component includes measures that increase the likelihood of having enough time to safely escape a fire. If a three-bedroom home catches fire, building inspectors have set a standard to protect the resident. Those measures include fire alarms and ample windows and doors that can be used as an exit. Pallet’s shelters make the same considerations and can be even easier to exit in the event of an emergency given their relatively small size. There are also hinges on the outside of doors so if someone is incapacitated (not just in the unlikely event of a fire but also if they’re having a personal crisis) the door can be easily removed.  

In addition, all Pallet shelters are equipped with standard fire safety equipment. They include:  

• Fire extinguisher 
• Secondary emergency egress door 
• Hardwired smoke detector 
• Hardwired CO monitor 

“In designing our shelters, we borrowed fire safety best practices from our background in traditional permanent housing construction,” says Pallet Founder and CEO Amy King. “These practices, paired with independent inspection by local fire authorities, make Pallet a safe solution for cities.”   

The units are spaced several feet apart – dictated by local fire code – to minimize the damage if a fire occurs. Shelter spacing also provides more privacy between residents and their neighbors within the village. For additional safety, service provider staff should perform regular wellness check-ins on residents. These checks are an opportunity to make sure residents keep the egress door clear and that there are no other fire hazards within or between the cabins. 

Safety and dignity are always a top priority at Pallet. People experiencing homelessness are already in a vulnerable position. Our goal is to create a safe environment for them to thrive so they can transition to permanent housing.  

Much like food and clean drinking water, shelter is a basic human need required for people to live. Without it, we go into survival mode and function at the most fundamental level at best.  

Recently, there has been a push at both the federal and local levels to recognize housing as a human right. The Biden administration has done so as have governors like New York’s Kathy Hochul. 

That means, if people have a right to life, then they should have the right to what is required to live life. The United Nations defines it as “the right to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity.” It goes on to declare these rights include “security of tenure, adequate conditions, protection against forced evictions and access to affordable housing,” according to the UN’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 

Housing as a human right is not a new concept. During his 1944 State of the Union address, President Franklin Roosevelt said, “the right of every family to a decent home” was an economic truth that was “self-evident,” linking the right to housing to the Declaration of Independence. Safe and affordable housing was also recognized as a human right in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly. It has been reiterated in international treaties, resolutions, and declarations most of which the United States has signed onto. 

Declaring housing as a human right is all well and good. Putting it into practice is another thing entirely. Housing is still treated as a commodity rather than a right and to date no federal laws guarantee a right to housing. Some local governments like Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and New York have adopted a “right to shelter.” However, a right to shelter in most cases brings those experiencing homelessness indoors to stay in temporary shelters. 

So, it’s no surprise homelessness keeps rising. In fact, 582,462 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January of 2022, according to the HUD 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report. Currently, our country has a system of temporary or congregate shelters that theoretically reaches 354,000 people on a given night.  

There are some challenges with traditional congregate shelters. Those experiencing homelessness might not want to go to a shelter because they’re concerned about their safety—especially women who are often victims of sexual abuse. In addition, many shelters don’t allow pets or personal items, and others don’t allow families to stay together. While those restrictions exist for a reason, it’s also very understandable why those experiencing homelessness find them to be a barrier. That’s why now more than ever, we need additional rapid solutions, that get to the root of the crisis.  

Housing influences so many aspects of our lives that we take for granted—from physical and mental health to safety, to access to both food and employment. Offering a dignified solution with transitional shelter is one way to bridge the gap to permanent housing as we work to secure a right to housing. Our rapidly deployable shelters offer the dignity of a private space. They have a locking door and windows, include a bed, climate control system, and storage. 

Pallet shelters are built in a community environment, and we work with local service providers who help residents get the resources they need such as healthcare, transportation, and job placement. It will take a bold move, like a legal right to housing, to address the country’s affordability crisis and growing number of people experiencing homelessness. Time and political pressure are needed to shift housing policy at a local and national level toward a rights-based model. 

We believe housing is a basic human right that all people are entitled to have. As some politicians look to innovative plans to solve the current housing crisis, we need to work together to find comprehensive solutions to end unsheltered homelessness.  

Get them in a room together and Jennifer and Alan laugh – a lot. The two first met each other a handful of years ago when they were living on streets of the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Washington. Today they’re co-workers at Pallet. Their witty humor makes them a dynamic duo dropping hilarious one-liners as they tell stories about their past. Indeed, they can have a crowd in stitches. 

“I relate to many of the people here because we can laugh about things that most people would get appalled by,” Alan says in admiration of his co-workers, many of whom share similar lived experiences.  
 
Jennifer agrees – they have witnessed the darker sides of life. But, she says, they’ve risen above them. “It’s like, you guys, we have overcome so much and we’re killing it now. We are rock stars,” she says, laughing.  

She and Alan are proud to have surmounted substance use disorder and other challenges that are, truthfully, nothing to laugh at. Right now though, they’re excited to be working on Pallet shelters for a new village on the Tulalip Reservation where they were once unhoused themselves. 

 
“I’m super happy about the village because there’s a lot of my friends still stuck out there in Tulalip, doing the same dumb [stuff] I was doing,” Alan says. “Now they can potentially move into a Pallet shelter. And the guy that they used to get high with and go commit burglaries and crazy [stuff] with, is the same [guy] who built that shelter for them.”  
 
Alan’s a machinist. He creates the individual parts that form the skeletons of our shelters.  

Jennifer works in maintenance and repairs; she just transitioned from being an HR safety specialist. Sometimes she also works onsite erecting the villages. She feels a connection to the people who move into the shelters. 

“When you get the opportunity to go out in the field and watch people take down their tents and cry and be so thankful and tell you that as they’re moving their stuff into a unit” it’s powerful, she says. 

Years of substance use and cycles of recovery and recidivism led to Jennifer and Alan living unhoused on the Tulalip Reservation in the same circles for about six years. Alan lived in a tent surrounded by 30 other tents. Jennifer sold drugs.  

“I needed drugs, she had drugs, that’s how we met,” Alan quips.  

“As long as I could keep drugs in my pocket, I was ok. It meant I had money,” Jennifer explains.   

Life on the streets was extremely hard both physically–such as defending oneself from attacks—and emotionally; there’s often a loss of self-worth, Jennifer says. “You have to be a survivor. You have to do things you normally wouldn’t do just to get by.” 

“People tend to think of drug addicts as being weak,” Alan says. “But it’s the opposite; you’re battling every single day. You’re not thinking about tomorrow, you’re thinking about how am I going to get through today. You’ll worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.”  

Through their own journeys and fortitude, Jennifer and Alan both eventually entered clean and sober houses. Jennifer started managing the women’s house, and Alan, the men’s. Jennifer came to Pallet about a year before Alan and found the structure and accountability she needed to start rebuilding her life. Soon she was promoted to HR. “Alan’s manager referred him to me as a great worker and we needed people,” Jennifer says. She helped hire him. 
 

“I just love that when I got into HR I could get more people in and be a fair chancer,” she says. “To watch your fellow co-workers thrive and grow, you get so much reward out of that.” 

Being part of a fair chance employer feels like an extension of how she, Alan and others provided support to each other on the streets. “Being in the circle of addiction, you still take care of each other,” she says. “Some days are harder than others. You’re just ready to give up and you just need that one person to believe in you.”  

With co-workers who believe in them and stable jobs, Jennifer and Alan are thriving. Alan just moved into an apartment and got his license back. Jennifer lives in her own place with her daughter. 

Through their work on Pallet’s 100th village—the Tulalip village—Jennifer and Alan are striving to provide these critical transitional shelters to friends who are still unhoused on the reservation.  
 

“For me, it’s about being part of solving a bigger problem,” Jennifer says. “What makes me excited about the Tulalip build is coming from there–it’s literally closing that whole circle and being able to give back.” 

6 Impacts of homelessness unique to indigenous communities 

 By Adrienne Schofhauser

“Native people were never homeless before 1492.”  
 
It’s a poignant reminder from the Chief Seattle Club, a Native-led housing and human services agency in the city. In Seattle, Native people are seven times more likely than white people to be experiencing homelessness. While these rates are higher than most of the country, they represent a crisis that’s happening nationwide.  

Decades of atrocities against Native people have produced a harsh reality: Today American Indians/Alaska Natives experience the second highest rate of homelessness in the U.S., according to the latest Annual Homelessness Assessment Report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. As of 2019, Native Americans account for approximately 1.5% of North America’s population, yet they make up more than 10% of the homeless population nationally, according to the HUD report. 

The reasons for these disparities are complex, but like many ethnic injustices in America, they’re rooted in the historical traumas uniquely experienced by these populations. Policies set up by the U.S. government to assimilate Native people had lasting impacts, and led to deep mistrust of agencies and resources.  
 
It’s easy to assume the federal government’s partnerships with the Tribes would provide sufficient funding to right these wrongs. But the system is outdated and vastly underfunded. Largely due to this, nearly 80% of Native people no longer live on reservations. These impacts leave many Native people feeling caught between two worlds—with no sense of belonging in either.  

Historical traumas 

Actions by the federal government such the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the forced assimilation of tens of thousands of Native children through boarding schools in the late 19th century may feel as though they’re part of a bygone era. But the traumas experienced by those who endured them have been passed down through generations of Native people. 

In the boarding schools, Native children were stripped of their connections to their culture, forced to lose their language and traditions. They endured mental, physical and sexual abuses. These traumas had long-lasting, multigenerational impacts, creating personal scenarios in which it’s hard to seek help, trust authorities and systems, and ultimately establish stable housing.  

The Chief Seattle Club said it sees first-hand how many Native people who walk through their doors still experience a “deep longing” for connections to their culture and traditions.  

Mistrust in government agencies  

These historical traumas carried in the bodies and minds of Native people through the generations have created a great mistrust of government agencies. The results are damaging: Even when assistance is available, few Native people may take advantage of those resources. According to Point-in-Time data, Native people access housing shelters at a lower rate than any other demographic.  

When Native people do seek resources such as housing and employment, systemic and cultural barriers—such as implicit bias and lack of respect or understanding of cultural differences by people involved in the process—present big hurdles to securing that next step toward housing and financial stability. 

In other words, when Native people take the initiative to push beyond their ingrained mistrust, they’re often met with an even higher hurdle—society’s historically negative perception of people who have endured unacknowledged hardships and harms. 

Low counts lead to a lack of federal funding 
 
Native Americans experiencing homelessness are severely undercounted in U.S. data. Certainly, mistrust in government agencies is one reason—when Native people don’t access resources, advocate services can’t generate reliable data. Another reason is simply their small population size, which makes it hard for homeless services and the U.S. Census to identify them. 
 
The consequences of low and inaccurate counts can be devastating. Federal and other types of funding are tied to these numbers. Public policies are built around them. When Native people aren’t represented in the data—rendering them essentially invisible—public policies simply can’t address their needs. 
 
This plays out on tribal lands, where 23% of American Indian/Alaska Native households have incomes less than 50 percent of the federal poverty line. “Tribal nations rely on the U.S. Census Bureau to make sure that the count for Indian Country is accurate and complete to ensure proper representation and redistricting, equitable federal funding decisions and formulas, and access to accurate census data for local tribal governance,” Kevin J. Allis told a Congressional panel in 2020. 

The reality is, the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funding, which provides affordable housing activities on reservations and Indian lands, has remained relatively stagnant since 1998. Meanwhile, inflation has eaten away at the value of those dollars. Additionally, the Native population living on tribal lands has increased over the last two decades. Because funding has not kept pace, services like housing assistance have suffered significantly.  

Unfortunately, the negative consequences of these impacts can be highly masked on tribal lands. That’s because of a practice called “doubling up.” 

Doubling up masks literal homelessness 
 
Family members on tribal lands often provide shelter to friends and extended family lacking access to housing. Because of this, homelessness doesn’t so much take the form of individuals sleeping on the street as it does in doubling up. Individuals move from one overcrowded home to the next, a direct result of lack of affordable housing, which in turn, is the consequence of inadequate funding.  

According to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, between 42,000 and 85,000 Native Americans on tribal lands experience homelessness. Yet literal homelessness—that is, sleeping outside, in an emergency shelter or some place not meant for human habitation—is far less common. This is compounded by the fact that designated homeless services are also less common in tribal areas. 
 
These circumstances have pushed many to seek opportunities off the reservations. But this comes with its own harsh realities. 

Caught between two worlds  

Having a credit history or understanding how to get an ID card are elements of everyday life in America. But for Native people migrating away from the reservation, these fundamentals can present major barriers to the first steps in applying for a job and establishing an economic foothold.  

Additionally, mistrust and social discrimination continue to factor into their personal journeys. 

Roughly eight out of 10 American Indians do not live on reservations. Yet very little federal funding is directed specifically toward them. Tribal governments usually allocate the funds they do get for life on the reservation. This leaves many Native people feeling caught between urban life and their reservation–or rather, abandoned by both.  

Loss of spiritual connection 

The major impacts of homelessness are felt across populations, from hazardous environmental exposure to safety risks, such as theft and murder. But unhoused Native people also face racial discrimination and a loss of connection to their culture and spiritual traditions.  

Living on the streets makes it hard or impossible to practice their healing ways. Oftentimes, shelters and advocates aren’t knowledgeable about Native cultural issues. Nationwide, there’s a shortage of culturally competent outreach, which is key to engendering trust with unhoused Native people. 

However, resources that are designed specifically for Native people are finding success. “We know that when our community gets culturally competent services, by Native people for Native people, the services are going to stick,” Janeen Comenote, founding executive director of the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, told Bloomberg. 

If more resources address the challenges unhoused Native people face, the effects would literally be life-saving. According to New Mexico In Depth, the average age of death for unhoused white people is 45.6 years old. For unhoused Native people, it’s 37.5. And for Native women, it’s only 35.3.  

Those are staggering numbers that hit us at the core here at Pallet. They’re proof that creative solutions are desperately needed.  

We’re proud to be building a village on the Tulalip Tribal Reservation in Washington state; it’s our 100th village built. The Tulalip Tribe will run it with the ability to provide culturally appropriate resources. It’s an example of a solution personalized to its community. We know there’s no one-size-fits all approach to solving the homelessness crisis. But when advocates can create an ecosystem of support for reintegration–such as the Tulalip Tribe with these shelters—there’s potential for great progress to happen.  

Pallet builds it's 100th village

  

Just before Christmas, we crossed a milestone — building our 100th village. It’s located in Tulalip, WA which is just a short drive north of our headquarters. The location holds special meaning for some Pallet employees who previously experienced homelessness in the area and are now finding purpose in building transitional housing to help others in the community. The village is made up of twenty 64 sq.ft. shelters and one 100 sq.ft. shelter and was constructed in just two days by the Pallet deployment team. The Tulalip tribes will manage the site and provide on-site services for community members moving in over the next couple of weeks. 

Build Breakdown  

Pallet shelters are built by our deployment team – a dedicated group of nine staff members specializing in on-site shelter construction. They travel from city to city, building transitional shelter villages in communities for people experiencing homelessness. This team also offers advisory and training services for constructing Pallet shelters. The expertise and experience they bring create a seamless, replicable process. 

A behind-the-scenes look into the process starts with the unloading of the palletized shelters from the delivery trucks.  

Once the bases of the shelters are set in place, each shelter is built from the outside in. 

Next, the side walls are built around the base and roof is built last.  

The interior of the shelter is then constructed, which includes shelving, climate control, lights, electrical outlets, a folding bunk bed with a custom-fit mattress, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector.  The last step in the building process is an inspection typically conducted by a Field Team Lead to ensure quality and to approve the site for city inspection. 

Field Team Lead, James was one of the first people on the deployment team. He joined Pallet two and half years ago as a Manufacturing Specialist and was promoted to the role he has now. James is driven by our twofold mission — addressing unsheltered homelessness and building a nontraditional workforce through fair chance employment. 

"I get to work with people that have not only experienced homelessness, but substance use disorder and incarceration and see them thrive. They're some of the hardest working people I've ever worked with," he explained. "Our shelters are transitional to help people who fell on hard times. The village is here to help you get through that and get back up on your feet." 
 

100 shelter villages built and counting... 

"Building our one-hundredth village shows the Pallet model is a proven and viable option. More and more cities are turning to us because they need creative solutions," said Pallet Founder and CEO Amy King. "At Pallet shelter villages, people come in and stabilize. By consistently engaging with a service provider, they can build trust and community together. This preparation allows them to sustain permanent housing once they get there." 

Our first-ever village opened in Tacoma, WA, in 2017. The Tulalip location is the ninth village in Washington state. During the last five years we've set up shelters as far south as Hawaii and as far north as Burlington, VT. 

The 100th build won't be our last. We'll continue to provide this valuable resource to communities who want to help their unhoused neighbors. 

Tim’s story: From a Pallet shelter village to housing  

As the year ends, we’re looking back at the stories we’ve shared throughout 2022. It’s been another year of growth, and we’ve evolved as a company — we’re now a Public Benefit Corporation and a certified Living Wage Employer. We’ve also expanded our footprint by building Pallet shelter villages in the northeast.  

Notably, hundreds more people experiencing homelessness are staying in dignified shelter with a locking door and have access to social services. They can now stabilize and are working towards moving into permanent housing with the assistance of an on-site service provider. This year the Pallet model helped people such as Tim and others move out of temporary shelter and into their own homes. 

Here’s a round-up of our top stories from this year.  

1. Tim’s story: From a Pallet shelter village to housing 

Tim became homeless after a series of distressing events. First, he lost his job, then the apartment building he lived in was sold. His lease wouldn’t be renewed, leaving him with 30 days to find a new place. 

“Covid knocked on our door a couple of months after that, and it’s just been one speed bump after another that has culminated in where I am right now,” he shared. Tim went on to stay at a mass congregate shelter with hundreds of other people. Next, he moved to the Safe Outdoor Space (SOS), which has 56 Pallet shelters. “This is way better. You have your own key. You have four walls that you can lose yourself in or whatever, and you can ride out whatever unpredictable in your life, save up some cash and move on to your next step.” 

Stabilizing in a safe, secure space positively impacted Tim’s life. After accessing social services, Tim moved into an apartment at the beginning of October. [Keep Reading] 

2. A supportive little friend: Juan and Pepe 

If you’re looking for Pepe – a tiny tan chihuahua – you may miss him at first. His favorite place to hide is Juan’s zip-up jacket. Pepe’s tiny head occasionally pokes out, just far enough to get ear scratches and peek around.  

Juan, Pepe’s owner, loves to keep him close for cuddling. The duo first met a few months ago, in a tough time in Juan’s life. [Keep Reading] 

3. Building community in Vancouver, WA 

Recently Jerry and Sharon celebrated 26 years of marriage. This year they had more to commemorate than just lifelong companionship. At the same time last year, they lived outside and slept in a tent. The couple moved into Safe Stay Community, a Pallet shelter village in Vancouver, WA, when it opened in December 2021. The relocation was especially timely because of an unforgiving Pacific Northwest winter. 

“It’s great compared to a tent. Heat’s good, especially in December when it’s colder than heck. Or April when it snows,” Sharon said. “And windstorms. We had a big windstorm that was taking tents down, but it never took ours down.” 

“It’s a God send,” Jerry added. [Keep Reading] 

4. Q&A: Mayor Cassie Franklin on addressing unsheltered homelessness

Pallet shelter villages are transitional communities for people experiencing homelessness. They provide the dignity and security of lockable private cabins within a healing environment. Residents have access to a resource net of on-site social services, food, showers, laundry, and more which helps people transition to permanent housing.  

There are more than 70 Pallet shelter villages across the country, including one near our headquarters in Everett, Washington, which opened one year ago. Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin was instrumental in bringing the site to life. We held a webinar to discuss the affordable housing crisis, why unhoused people don’t accept traditional shelter, and the steps the city of Everett took to build a Pallet shelter village. Mayor Franklin provided good insight into these issues. Before becoming an elected official, she was the CEO of Cocoon House, a nonprofit organization focused on the needs of at-risk young people. [Keep Reading] 

5. Change is possible, just ask Sarah 

When Sarah sets her sights on a goal, she’ll inevitably be successful. Being resourceful and determined has served her well. Sarah joined Pallet as a Manufacturing Specialist at the beginning of the year. Joining the team was a full-circle moment. She vividly remembers seeing our shelters in downtown Portland a couple of years ago. In a short time, Sarah has made an impact working at Pallet. Working in the factory was a bit of an adjustment at first, particularly standing on her feet for long hours. Still, she got used to it and quickly excelled at the various steps of building Pallet shelters. 

“They were bouncing me around to all the stations, and the supervisors kept saying, ‘normally people need to stay at a station for a certain amount of time before we move on, but you’re learning really quickly,'” she shared. “It helped give me that motivation and confidence.” 

Within a few months, Sarah was promoted to Customer Service Coordinator, a new position on the Community Development team. [Keep Reading] 

6. Building community at Westlake Village 

Two photos hanging from a fence greet visitors when walking into Westlake Village in Los Angeles. One has a placard underneath reading “Guest of the Month.” The other is titled “Employee of the Month.” The rotating designation encapsulates the spirit of the village and its values – building community, sharing positive feedback, and celebration.  

The community of 60 colorful Pallet shelters and street signs is a transitional place for people experiencing homelessness. Residents have access to a resource net of social services, meals, hygiene facilities, laundry, and more. Urban Alchemy (UA) — a social enterprise engaging with situations where extreme poverty meets homelessness, mental illness, and substance use disorder — is the service provider for the site. 

“My heart and compassion for the homeless population is huge. I believe that this is my calling,” shared Wanda Williams, UA Deputy Director of Residential Services. “We’re preparing them now for what may be next.” [Keep Reading] 

7. Pallet achieves new status: Public Benefit Corporation 

Pallet began in 2016 as a Social Purpose Company (SPC), the Washington state equivalent of a B corporation. As of 2022, we’re proud to announce that we’ve transitioned to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). It means we use profitability to expand our impact. As our business grows, the more jobs and shelter villages we can create to end unsheltered homelessness. The change reflects our growth as a company. PBCs are widely recognized across the country. More than 30 state legislators passed PBC statutes to make it easier for private businesses to establish themselves as a PBC or transition to one. 

Think of a PBC as a hybrid of a nonprofit and for-profit organization. Our investment partners have allowed us to scale up quickly to meet the needs of the homelessness crisis. [Keep Reading] 

8. Pallet is a certified Living Wage Employer 

Investment in human potential is a core component of our mission. People who live in Pallet shelter villages are a part of a community where they have access to a resource net of social services, which enables them to transition to permanent housing. We’ve created a purpose-driven environment where employees are supported, and learning is encouraged.  

As part of our commitment to creating sustainable jobs, we’re proud to announce Living Wage for US certified Pallet as a Living Wage Employer. The nonprofit organization granted the status after analyzing Pallet’s cash wages and benefits paid to employees. Third-party validation is another step for us to show business can be a force for good. [Keep Reading] 

9. From second chance to fair chance: Why we’re changing our language 

Language is ever-evolving. As society changes and grows, the words we use or stop using reflect who we are. At Pallet, we continually evaluate whether we’re using inclusive, destigmatizing language. We speak and operate in a way that mirrors our values.  

Since our inception in 2016, we’ve identified ourselves as a second chance employer. At the time, it was a commonly used term to describe companies like us that aimed to build a nontraditional workforce. We focused on an applicant’s potential, not their past. As a result of this decision, it helped us design and manufacture shelter solutions firmly rooted in lived experience. But the term second chance employment doesn’t fit. It implies everyone has access to the same opportunities in life and squandered their first chance.  

10. How Pallet shelters are tested for cold conditions 

As part of our commitment to provide dignified space for people experiencing homelessness, we are continually improving our shelters. Conducting tests is one way to ensure Pallet shelter village residents are comfortable inside their cabins and safe from the elements. Recently two members of Pallet’s engineering team — Jordan, Design Engineer, and Jessie, CAD Designer — oversaw an independent assessment of our heaters and the 64 sq. ft. and 100 sq. ft. shelters. Specifically, we wanted an additional analysis of thermal efficiency in cold weather and the power consumption of the heaters.  

Testing took place over four days at the SGS facility in Colorado. The shelters were placed inside a chamber that could reach -10 degrees Fahrenheit. [Keep Reading] 

A safe place to regroup 

Village of Hope, a new Pallet shelter village in Bridgeton, New-Jersey, will provide safe, stable transitional housing for people recently released from prison and on parole who have nowhere to turn and might otherwise face homelessness.  

"Homelessness is a problem," said Bridgeton mayor Albert Kelly. "And this is one way of demonstrating how we can not only house those who are coming out of a halfway house, but perhaps we can expand on this for our homeless in our inner cities. And that's what our hope is."  

Collaboration is essential in bringing a Pallet shelter village to life. Gateway Community Action Partnership, a New Jersey-based nonprofit, and The Kintock Group, a nonprofit that focuses on reentry programs, worked together to get the village up and running. It’s centered around six 100-square-foot Pallet shelters, and sits adjacent to a Kintock Group recovery residence. Residents will have access to shared bathrooms, picnic areas, and a community room. 

Six residents at a time will stay for up to 180 days, supported by an ecosystem of essential services to help them acquire state ID cards, find work, access health and wellness care, and eventually secure permanent housing. 

Each Pallet shelter provides a dignified personal space with a bed, a desk, heating and air conditioning, storage for belongings, outlets for devices, and a mini fridge—plus a door that locks for privacy. 

A difficult transition 

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), nearly 6.9 million people are on probation, in prison, in jail, or on parole at any given time in the U.S. Every year, more than 600,000 will be released from state and federal prison—many without anyone to assist with the challenges of reentry. With a history of incarceration, most will have trouble finding employment and housing, both crucial to building a new life.  

That difficulty is compounded by social and economic barriers that contribute to recidivism and homelessness. A Prison Policy Initiative report shows that formerly incarcerated people are almost 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public. And according to HHS, nearly two thirds of prisoners are rearrested within three years of release, and half are reincarcerated. Without adequate support throughout the challenges of exiting the judicial system, chances of recidivism are likely to increase.  

A way forward 

There is no one-size-fits all approach to support those exiting the judicial system or seeking a path out of chronic homelessness. But stable transitional housing with close proximity to essential support services is a proven model.  

Pallet shelters provide safe, dignified space in healing community surroundings. With a network of services on-site, people can begin to think about the next step. We believe people should be defined by their potential, not their past—and a positive future starts with a safe space to sleep and a supportive environment. 

From second chance to fair chance: Why we're changing our language

Lacey has a smile that lights up the room. Her positive outlook is contagious, and she's a joy to be around. Lacey joined the Pallet team as a Manufacturing Specialist at the beginning of the year. In this role, Lacey moved from station to station in the factory to build the shelter panels. She enjoys working with her hands, so it's been a good fit.  

"I loved putting the windows in. That was really fun. I did a lot of roofs.," she shared." I love working in production." 

Within a few months, she went from manufacturing shelters at our headquarters to joining the deployment team, a dedicated group of staff who specialize in on-site shelter construction. Lacey has set up Pallet shelter villages across the U.S., from Sacramento, CA, to Burlington, VT.  

"When I first started here, I heard about the deployment team, and I was just like, that seems like it just sounds like a dream job to be able to travel around. I'm a really hard worker," she explained. "I love the fast pace of deployments. I love running back and forth doing that stuff. I'm just excited." 

In addition to being enthusiastic about being on the team, Lacey is thankful to be working alongside others with similar backgrounds. It was uncomfortable for her to disclose she had felony convictions to an employer in the past. She shares one of her experiences, "I had an interview, and the lady was just looking at me just crazy the whole time. I felt extremely judged. It was awful."  

Lacey’s interview experience was different at Pallet because we're a Fair Chance employer. We believe in people's potential, not their past. More than half of Pallet staff are in recovery, have experienced homelessness, and/or have been impacted by the justice system.  

"To be around a bunch of people that have been where I've been and are striving to go where I want to go — it's a good environment," she added.  

Next month Lacey will celebrate being in recovery for two years. A tattoo on her forearm that says "thriving, not surviving" reflects how far she's come. Her substance use disorder began with a back injury she received at work when she was 19. A doctor prescribed her OxyContin. She used it to alleviate her pain for several years, but Lacey says the opioid shouldn't have been the treatment. Later, she had two laser treatments which technically negated the need for OxyContin. 

"I had no idea that it was synthetic heroin. I had no idea that opioids were so powerful. Then they were like, 'Okay, it's time to get off of it,'" she explained. "It was everywhere. Everybody that I knew was doing it. Everybody was just smoking these pills, and so I just started."  

She continued to work, but maintaining a full-time job became increasingly difficult. She moved onto other substances, and her life began to unravel. She had to quit her job, lost the home she bought a few years earlier, and had been arrested several times. She lived in a car and tried to survive. These were stressful times for Lacey that lasted many years, but after undergoing detox five times, and three rehab stints, Lacey was ready to make a change.

"You're not done until you're done, you know what I mean? You can go through the process over and over," she shared. "You can be forced to go to rehab, you can be forced to do whatever, and it does not matter." 

Two years ago, Lacey was ready to stop using substances partly because a milestone birthday was approaching, and she wanted to live a different life. One where she had a stable place to live, employment, and no longer using substances. 

After serving a sentence in county jail, Lacey moved into an Oxford House, which is recovery housing. Initially, Lacey wanted to live independently, but the peer-supported environment was a perfect fit. They share expenses, hold weekly meetings, and support one another. As part of recovery, Lacey attends Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings and tells her story to others. She can also spend time with her family, who live nearby.  

After many years of tumult, Lacey is focused on leading a quality life. Pallet is proud to be a part of her journey. She exemplifies why diversified hiring practices are vital to our success. Lacey brings compassion and optimism to the team. 

"Pallet is a place where you're welcomed with open arms. It's really freeing to be able to walk in here and be around a bunch of administrative people — who most likely have not been where I've been — and not be judged," she said. "I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to work and be able to gain my self-worth. I know what it was like to just give up on life basically." 

Q&A: Mayor Cassie Franklin on addressing unsheltered homelessness 

Language is ever-evolving. As society changes and grows, the words we use or stop using reflect who we are. At Pallet, we continually evaluate whether we're using inclusive, destigmatizing language. We need to speak and operate in a way that mirrors our values. 
 
Since our inception in 2016, we've identified ourselves as a second chance employer. At the time, it was a commonly used term to describe companies like us that aimed to build a nontraditional workforce. We focused on an applicant's potential, not their past. As a result of this decision, it helped us design and manufacture shelter solutions firmly rooted in lived experience. But the term second chance employment doesn't fit. It implies everyone has access to the same opportunities in life and squandered their first chance. 
 
"Second chance employer doesn't reflect the true circumstances of our team. For most of our folks, this is their first chance, or it could also be their third and fourth chance," Pallet CEO Amy King shared. "And the connotation is that we're doing them a favor by giving them another chance. And that's not the case." 
 
The term can also be interpreted as negatively judging someone's past. That's not the case at Pallet, so we've decided to describe ourselves as a fair chance employer. The term is inclusive and recognizes that everyone is capable. Fair chance hiring reduces recidivism and strengthens our community. 
 
"We're making this change in language to show we welcome everyone. We don't care what your background is," added King. "It doesn't single out the justice-involved population either, and it helps us to have a broader reach to people from any background anywhere." 
 
Diversified hiring practices are vital to our success and help us empower people who can process and problem-solve with compassion, sensitivity, and creativity. 

 
J.J. found purposeful work at Pallet 

The inside of Tim's Pallet shelter in Aurora, CO, reflects what brings him joy. Denver Broncos and Colorado Avalanche jerseys brighten the space. A replica of a Detective Comics cover with Batman on the front is over the window. And dozens of Hot Wheels line the wall. Some are superhero-themed, while others are sleek racers inspired by real sports cars. Each is still pristine, encased in the original packaging. For Tim, they are much more than a toy marketed to kids. 

"That is my salvation," he explained. "That takes me back to a more innocent time in my life where I can just lose myself in Hot Wheel cars. It was easy for me to do it as a kid. It's really easy for me to do it as an adult. They're the coolest things on Earth." 

At one point, he had 3,500 Hot Wheels. 

"They were my wallpaper in my dining room and kitchen of one of my apartments. I don't have that collection anymore, but I'm acquiring a new one," he added.

Tim is originally from Buffalo, NY, but he's lived in Colorado for years. He became homeless after a series of distressing events. First, he lost his job, then the apartment building he lived in was sold. His lease wouldn’t be renewed, leaving him with 30 days to find a new place.

"Covid knocked on our door a couple of months after that, and it's just been one speed bump after another that has culminated in where I am right now," he shared. Tim went on to stay at a mass congregate shelter with hundreds of other people. Next, he moved to the current site known as Safe Outdoor Space (SOS), which has 56 Pallet shelters. "This is way better. You have your own key. You have four walls that you can lose yourself in or whatever, and you can ride out whatever unpredictable in your life, save up some cash and move on to your next step." 

Stabilizing in a safe, secure space positively impacted Tim's life. He no longer must navigate what he described as the chaos of being homeless. He's also enjoying independence.

The Salvation Army is the service provider at the site. Tim has been working with staff to take the steps necessary to move on to permanent housing. For example, he now receives income from the state's Old Age Pension Health Program (OAP), which provides financial assistance to elderly and low-income residents. About a month ago, he received the good news he's been waiting for. The Aurora Housing Authority let him know he was awarded a lifetime housing voucher. 

"This voucher is a godsend," Tim shared. "With the little income that I have that the staff here helped me secure, I should be okay." 

Because he has a voucher, he's only responsible for a portion of the rent. Now Tim is searching for an apartment to move into, which he's confident will happen soon. He's looking forward to getting back to the everyday life he led before becoming unhoused. 

When asked what misconceptions people have about homelessness, Tim points out the absurdity of stereotypes and the assumption that all homeless people are the same.  
 
"Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, 'I want to sleep on a piece of grass this morning. Or when I go to bed tonight, I want to sleep on a park bench or under a table or wrapped around a tree.' This isn't a social experiment," he shared. "The stigma, it's the word ‘homeless’ that scares the general public into a fit that they don't want nobody around them if they're homeless. We have to eat just like everybody else. We have the right to get our life back in order like anybody else that has a hard time." 

UPDATE: At the beginning of October, Tim moved into a one-bedroom apartment, and he couldn't be happier. He credits several factors and a community of people coming together to help him navigate the path back to permanent housing. It includes the Salvation Army caseworkers, the Aurora Housing Authority, which granted him a housing voucher, and the ability to live in a Pallet shelter. Tim is grateful that he's now in a position to help others. He also has plenty of room for his Hot Wheels collection.

 
Building a path to permanent housing at Esperanza Villa 

Pet ownership is a quintessential part of American life. Statistics show 70 percent of households across the country own at least one pet. From parks to specialty items, there's an entire industry catering to the needs of furry family members. But when a pet owner is unhoused, their ability to care for an animal is questioned.

A prevailing myth is that people without a stable place to live shouldn't own pets and should give them up. According to a Homeless Rights Advocacy Project (HRAP) policy brief, "this advice is predicated on the false belief that surrendering dogs to shelters is superior to having a dog live on the streets with its owner." But that's not true. The brief adds, "shelter conditions alone cause severe animal suffering and unnecessary death." Some also falsely believe people experiencing homelessness are unworthy of owning a pet and are incapable of caring for them. These misconceptions are dangerous and have led to the harassment of homeless people on the street.

Jennifer, Human Resources and Safety Specialist at Pallet, knows firsthand the value of having a pet while homeless. Jennifer's bond with her dog Bailey began when she was housed, but later they lived in a car, then an RV. Bailey helped fill the void in Jennifer's heart and alleviate the pain and suffering she was going through. Jennifer was dealing with personal setbacks and substance use disorder at the time.

"Even in some of my darkest moments, Bailey was the reason I didn't just give up and quit and die. Because then it was like, what's going to happen to Bailey?" she shared. "She was literally my reason for not giving up and helped me really get through a lot."

Jennifer took great care of Bailey and was attentive to her needs. Homeless pet owners often feed their animals before feeding themselves. For Jennifer, Bailey was a source of protection, companionship, and unconditional love. 

"When you're in those situations of being homeless, you need something to hold on to, to keep going, to keep surviving. You can be a single mom living in your car, and CPS (Child Protective Services) will still leave you alone," Jennifer shared. "Just because you don't have a roof and four walls around you doesn't mean you're not functioning. It doesn't mean you're not living, and it doesn't mean that you're not doing the best that you can."

At Pallet, we understand the critical bond between pets and their owners. Because traditional congregate shelters don't allow pets, it's a barrier for unhoused pet owners to accept shelter. At Pallet shelter villages, unhoused people and their pets can stay together in a healing environment while stabilizing and preparing for the next step. Here's what a couple of pet owners staying in our shelters had to say about the benefits of having their four-legged family members with them.  

"Most homeless people I've met in my time if they have an animal, they need it because it gives them clarity, some focus, and it gives them something to live for," John explained. His dog, Walter, brings him joy and is his best friend.

"They keep me grounded," Lynette added. "They're my life, really. They're my kids. They're very protective of me."

The numerous mental and physical health benefits of having pets don't suddenly disappear when someone is unhoused. Rather than calling into question their ability to take care of their beloved pet, donating food and supplies to the many local organizations, food banks, and veterinarians assisting them would be helpful. Better yet, support transitional housing communities that help people move from the street to permanent housing.

The unhoused community has as much right as those who are housed to build and maintain a bond with a pet if they choose to. The personal experience of Jennifer, John, Lynette, and countless others show having a pet in their life is invaluable.

This post is part of an ongoing series debunking homelessness myths.
Part One: They are not local
Part Two: Homelessness is a personal failure
Part Three: Homelessness is a choice
Part Four: Homeless people are lazy
Part Five: Homelessness can't be solved 
Part Six: Homelessness is a blue state problem