The City of Pomona, CA is tackling Southern California’s growing homeless problem in its own city with an Allsite tension fabric homeless shelter solution. The city made an innovative decision to implement a fabric building solution, along with other services at a single site, to help needy people transition from the streets to better circumstances.
Fabric Building Shelter for New Pomona Homeless Services Center
Affordable housing in Southern California is in short supply. The widening income gap across America has left a bigger slice of the working poor and others on low incomes without shelter, especially in costly metropolitan areas like Southern California. With thousands of homeless residents, California cities struggle to provide food, shelter and sanitation for people who may be spread over many miles and living in different circumstances, from their cars and in abandoned buildings, or simply camping under overpasses and inside tunnels.
Pomona’s solution to providing temporary shelter and needed services to the homeless is an innovative, cost-effective solution that is being adopted in other places as well. Tension fabric structures offer the conveniences of a regular building, including power, lighting, ventilation and climate control, as well as reliable protection from weather events and many years of use. They also provide some things permanent structures do not: speed and flexibility. Allsite’s tension fabric structures (TFS) are modular, with a frame of lightweight, high strength aluminum that is easily transported and quickly assembled. Pomona did not have to wait years for construction of a building, only to find it already outdated for their needs. The structures are available in a number of widths and customized lengths which can be modified as needs change. They can also be installed on any site without the need for a foundation. Fast, easy, energy efficient and a great choice for Pomona’s homeless shelter needs.
Jason Cromwell, General Manager of Allsite Structure Rentals said, “It is an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of this amazing cause. It’s great to see cities like Pomona providing the resources, including a clean, safe environment, and services to get people the help they need to get back on their feet. I am proud to have one of our structures as part of Pomona’s innovative homeless services project, and hope that we can be involved with more humanitarian projects like this one.”
The city council approved and funded a $10 million Pomona Homeless Services Center. The first and most urgent phase is the 16,000 sq ft tension fabric building that serves as emergency homeless shelter. The shelter has already begun to welcome weary homeless people eager for a real bed, a pillow, their own locker and a safe place to sleep. Work continues on the rest of the project on the 2.61 acre site, including showers, a dining hall and day use area, and a services clinic to care for the medical and mental health needs of the homeless. The center will even have a dog kennel so homeless people will not avoid coming in fear of leaving their companion animals behind.
The Allsite tension fabric building is the largest structure on the site, and the hub of activity. This is where incoming residents are processed and housed. Even with its size, the modular fabric building was the lowest cost structure on the project site. The building was configured to include a number of available options, including insulated walls, lighting, doors and ventilation. It was prepped for installation of a fire suppression system. Because of its efficient design and modular structure, the cost for installation was low, paid at prevailing local wages.
Tension Fabric Structure Shelters Homeless at Hope for Home
Allsite Structure Rentals provided the spacious, 200+ person capacity fabric structure Emergency Shelter as the cornerstone of Pomona’s Hope for Home project. The bright, high clearance structure is heated and air conditioned, providing the guests with a comfortable, spacious and relaxing atmosphere in which to rest. Windows and vents bring in fresh air. With ample, column-free open floor space, dividers are being installed between beds to provide privacy for the sleepers. There is room for staff offices and meeting areas as well as an area to serve meals. With its durable, rain and wind resistant heavy-duty PVC fabric covering, the tension fabric structure can be used as a year round shelter, a first for Pomona and an important step forward in helping the city end it’s homeless problem.
Allsite continues to support the Pomona team as the TFS welcomes its first guests and is fully rolled out. Pomona’s goal of a convenient, cost effective full-service sit for homeless services is well under way.
Allsite Structure Rentals
Allsite provides tension fabric structures for use as temporary or permanent buildings for a number of industries including large capacity venues, sports and recreation, construction, aviation, and environmental remediation. Structures are also great solutions for building needs at remote oil, gas and mining locations.
For more information on tension fabric structures for homeless shelters or other activities, contact Allsite Structure Rentals today.
