Redding moves closer to opening pallet shelters, location under discussion
REDDING, Calif. — The City of Redding is moving closer to housing homeless people in micro-shelters, with a 10-month program including services to get them independent and self-sufficient.
Several pallet shelters were delivered to the Shasta Builders Exchange. Within a couple of hours, they were assembled to give interested parties a chance to get the look and feel of the 100 sq. ft. and 64 sq. ft. aluminum structures.
The Redding-based United Way of Northern California is looking to operate a site with six to eight micro-shelters.
"This is a great project that can help individuals move towards, ultimately, permanent housing that's safe and reliable. That would help the community and help these individuals," said Larry Olmstead with United Way of Northern California.
The Good News Rescue Mission on South Market Street has room for 15 micro-shelters.
"There are some people that have either severe illness, or maybe PTSD, and don't do very well in a congregate shelter setting. So those people I think will work really well to be able to give them their own private space as they work on getting the other services at the Mission," added Justin Wandro with the Good News Rescue Mission.
The City of Redding ordered the micro-shelters with an option for more.
"I think it's going to provide safe, sound, and affordable housing for one of our most underserved populations in the city," said Chad Neilson, a Housing Specialist with the City of Redding.
Jenny Shearer works for Pallet Shelters, based in Everett, Washington. She says a team of four to five people can assemble the larger building in about an hour, and the smaller building in 45 minutes.
Shearer says she has personally seen success.
"There's someone that I knew from recently working on a site that I myself am in recovery, and used to live on the streets with her, and she has gotten a job, gotten her own apartment, and it's just really cool to see those kinds of stories come out of these villages," Shearer mentioned.
Questions remain on where they would be located. There's a possibility of several micro-shelters behind St. James Lutheran Church on Shasta View Drive, and the rescue mission can take 15.
Beyond that, it's up to the city to find suitable locations, which they say is still under discussion.
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