Shipping container housing opens for homeless seniors
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Units at the Senior Bridge housing complex. Photo: Jeremy Duda/Axios
A newly opened project in Phoenix offers transitional housing made from shipping containers for older adults who are experiencing homelessness.
State of play: City officials and others gathered Wednesday morning for the opening of Senior Bridge, which provides 40 individual transitional housing units for homeless seniors at 28th and Van Buren streets.
- It's a collaboration that includes the city of Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Housing, and is operated by Mercy House.
Zoom in: Phase 1 has 40 units, each 160 square feet, equipped with beds, sinks, toilets, showers, microwaves and small refrigerators.
- The complex is entirely solar-powered with lithium battery storage, and can operate completely off the power grid, said Mercy House chief program officer Timothy Huynh.
Between the lines: Senior Bridge is open to people 55 and older who are experiencing homelessness and meet several other criteria, including that they're able to care for themselves.
- There's no set time for how long residents stay, but Huynh said people will ideally move on within 90 days.
- Each resident is paired with a case manager, and Mercy House will help connect them with services like health care, nutrition support and community engagement, which can continue after they move out.
- Senior Bridge already has its first resident and could fill up in a few weeks, Huynh said.
"We are creating a model that centers dignity while delivering results," Phoenix Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington said at the ribbon cutting event.
What's next: Phase 2 will have 54 permanent supportive apartments of about 750 square feet.
- Residents will pay affordable rent but no power bills, Kathleen Santin with builder Steel and Spark told Axios.
- Construction of the shipping container apartments is underway and residents are expected to start moving in around early December.