Home For All

Home For All is a City of Birmingham-funded pilot project to provide micro-shelters as temporary housing for persons experiencing homelessness. The project was announced by Mayor Randall Woodfin on Facebook.

As part of the project, the city solicited proposals for service providers, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions to act as partners with a goal of dividing the shelters into "safe, private communities" with access to "wrap-around services." That arrangement would position organizers to help transition those in need into more permanent housing.

The shelters themselves are to be procured through Pallet, an Everett, Washington-based public benefit corporation which furnishes and installs sleeping cabins for about $7,000 per unit. Their typical unit is 64 square feet and is constructed with an aluminum frame and insulated cladding panels, with a locking door and four small operable windows. They are furnished with a folding bed, storage bin, bedside shelving, and a small desk. Each unit is powered and includes interior and exterior LED lighting, device-charging outlets, and a small air conditioner and heater. Also furnished are a smoke and carbon monoxide detector and a small fire extinguisher. Through the city's contract with Pallet, each "community" could also be provided with a restroom/shower unit for every 10 beds, and with a 400 square-foot "community shelter" for meals, services, and program activities.

In addition to procurement and erection of the sleeping cabins and other facilities, the city's expenditure would include site preparation, utilities, area lighting and fencing. Other possible public investments would include bicycle racks, pet runs, and murals or public art. Partners would be expected to provide staffing for programs, counseling, coordination with other providers, as well as cleaning, enforcement of resident rules, managing prescription medicines, resolution of disputes, and security, including maintaining a register of all visitors. Preference would be given to partners that could also provide restrooms and showers, meeting rooms, storage areas, meals and/or kitchen facilities, or transportation.

On January 10, 2023 the Birmingham City Council unanimously approved a proposal to allow the Mayor to work with Pallet on a deal to purchase as many as 100 sleeping cabins for a 1-year period. The contract would also include consulting services. The city's RFP process launched in January, with partnerships to be announced in February. The initial project period would be from May 2023 to May 2024.

See also

• Project Compassion, a privately-led initiative to provide micro-shelters which coincided with the 2022 World Games

References

• Vetter, Selah (January 9, 2023) "Birmingham proposing a new program to help the homeless community sleep safe." Bham Now
• Byington, Pat (January 11, 2013) "Birmingham approves tiny shelters for city’s unhoused residents along with plans to provide services." Bham Now

External links

• Home For All at birminghamal.gov
• Home For All Request For Proposals at birminghamal.gov
• Pallet website