Douglas County is now one step closer to a solution for emergency shelter with the Board of County Commissioners’ decision today authorizing the purchase of 17 temporary, individual Pallet™ housing structures and a 400 square foot temporary services center.
The Pallet temporary housing solution decision was informed after learning that the County’s new HEART (Homeless Engagement, Assistance & Response Team) cannot legally do code enforcement, and address encampments, unless there are shelters somewhere in the county where people can go. The County also would benefit from economies of scale with the opportunity to time their investment along with other local governments considering the purchase.
While the Board’s discussion began with the potential need for the temporary structures associated with the County’s Homeless Initiative, the Board also discussed use of the structures as contingency equipment under circumstances of a fire, flood, a winter weather incident, or other such emergency situations.
When not in use the structures would be kept in dedicated storage.