Homeless-led Open designs Tiny shelters

Tiny shelters from scrap, dignity from design.

PalletShelter Commons is an open project where people with lived experience of homelessness share simple, safer micro-shelter designs, survival knowledge, and pathways into legal tiny-home and micro-community projects. No hype. No saviors. Just tools you can actually use.

View micro-shelter plans Get emergency help

⚠ Not legal advice — always check local codes and work with trusted organizations.

How this helps on day one

The short-term play is survival: staying drier, warmer, and safer with simple, movable shelters that do not pretend to be full houses. Each guide is written for people who may only have hand tools, a backpack, and a few hours of light.

Bill-of-materials checklists you can screenshot and carry.
Step-by-step sequences tuned for pallets and scrap lumber.
Design choices that assume you might have to move on short notice.

How this becomes a way out

The long-term play is leverage: turn your builds and lived experience into a portfolio you can bring to Habitat, churches, micro-community pilots, and small contractors. You are not "just" surviving — you are prototyping low-cost shelter solutions.

Downloadable build logs you can adapt and bring to meetings.
Suggested language for emails, grant pitches, and partnership decks.
Examples of how to describe your skills without hiding your story.

Micro-Shelter Build Guides

These guides focus on small, movable structures you can build with basic tools and reclaimed materials. All designs prioritize safety, weather protection, and the reality that you might need to relocate.

🏠 Basic 6×8 Pallet Shelter

Beginner 2-3 days Hand tools OK

Size: 6 feet × 8 feet (48 sq ft)
Cost: $50-150 if scrounging materials
Skill level: Beginner with supervision

Materials Needed

10-12 standard pallets (48" × 40") - free from stores, warehouses
Tarp or corrugated metal sheets for roof (8' × 10' minimum)
50-100 wood screws (3" deck screws work well)
Basic hand tools: hammer, saw, drill or screwdriver
Optional: 2×4 lumber for framing reinforcement
Door hinges and latch (can salvage from old furniture)

Step-by-Step Build Process

Foundation: Lay 4 pallets flat on level ground. Use concrete blocks if ground is uneven. This keeps you off wet ground.
Wall frames: Stand pallets on edge for walls. Connect corners with screws or wire. Front wall needs a 3' opening for door.
Roof frame: Lay 2 pallets across the top. Add a slight slope (6" drop from front to back) for water runoff.
Weather protection: Staple tarp over roof and upper walls. Overlap seams. If using metal, secure with screws every 12".
Door: Use a full pallet or make frame from scrap wood. Attach with hinges. Add simple latch.
Ventilation: Leave gaps near roof line or cut vent holes. Prevents condensation and carbon monoxide if using heat.

Safety Notes

⚠ Fire safety: Never use open flames inside. Keep any heat source 2+ feet from walls.
⚠ Ventilation: Must have airflow to prevent dangerous CO buildup and moisture.
⚠ Structural: This is NOT a permanent dwelling. High winds can damage it. Secure with stakes or weights.
⚠ Legal: Check local laws. Most cities prohibit unpermitted structures. This is emergency shelter only.

🏠 Insulated 8×10 Shelter

Intermediate 1-2 weeks Power tools helpful

Size: 8 feet × 10 feet (80 sq ft)
Cost: $200-400 with scavenged materials
Skill level: Intermediate - some construction experience needed

Key Improvements Over Basic

Insulated walls using cardboard, foam board, or fiberglass (from ReStore)
Proper plywood roof instead of just tarp
Small window for light and emergency exit
Raised floor to prevent moisture and provide storage underneath
More durable construction suitable for months of use

Where to Find Materials

Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Discounted lumber, windows, doors, insulation
Construction sites: Ask permission for scrap wood, damaged materials
Craigslist free section: People giving away building materials
Pallet yards: Many give away broken/damaged pallets for free
Roofing companies: Leftover shingles, damaged metal roofing

📋 Essential Tool List

You don't need much to start. Here's what actually matters:

Minimum Tools (Can build basic shelter)

Hammer or hatchet
Hand saw or hacksaw
Screwdriver (or use screws as nails)
Measuring tape or string for measuring
Utility knife

Recommended Additions

Cordless drill (battery-powered) - makes everything faster
Level (or use smartphone app)
Pry bar for dismantling pallets
Wire cutters and pliers
Safety glasses and work gloves

⚖️ Legal Considerations by State

These micro-shelters exist in a legal gray area. Here's what you need to know:

State	Tiny House Rules	Notes
California	ADUs allowed statewide	Many cities allow 120-400 sq ft structures. Fresno first to allow THOW.
Oregon	Very tiny-friendly	Portland allows tiny homes on wheels in all residential zones.
Texas	Varies by county	Generally lenient. Rural areas more flexible than cities.
Colorado	Some cities adopt Appendix Q	Denver and Boulder have warming shelter programs.
Washington	ADUs permitted most zones	Seattle has Safe Rest Villages program.

⚠ Critical: These micro-shelters typically DON'T meet building codes for permanent housing. They're emergency shelter. Work with local organizations to find legal placement options.

National Hotlines - Available 24/7

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text: 988

24/7 crisis support, trained counselors

HUD Housing Assistance

Visit: HUDExchange.info

Find shelters, housing counselors, emergency assistance

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-7233

Confidential support, safety planning, referrals

Substance Abuse Helpline (SAMHSA)

1-800-662-4357

Treatment referrals, support services

Veterans Crisis Line

Call 988, then press 1

Specialized support for veterans and families

211 - Community Resources

Dial 211 or text your ZIP to 898-211

Local shelters, food banks, rent assistance, medical care

🍲 Food & Basic Needs

Food Banks & Pantries

Feeding America: Visit feedingamerica.org to find local food banks. Most don't require ID or proof of address.

SNAP Benefits: Apply for food stamps at your state's SNAP website. Emergency SNAP can be processed in 7 days.

Meal Programs

Churches & Nonprofits: Many offer free hot meals. Call 211 for local schedules.

Salvation Army: Free meals at most locations, no questions asked.

Hygiene Facilities

Gym memberships: Planet Fitness ($10/month) has showers, restrooms.

Truck stops: Many have pay showers ($12-15).

Public libraries: Restrooms, water, charging stations, internet access.

🏥 Healthcare Access

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC): Sliding-scale medical care. Find at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
Health Care for the Homeless programs: Medical, dental, mental health services specifically for people experiencing homelessness
Free & low-cost clinics: Search "free clinic [your city]" or call 211
Emergency Medicaid: Coverage for emergency services even without full Medicaid enrollment
Prescription assistance: NeedyMeds.org helps find free/low-cost medications

❄️ Weather Emergency Resources

Extreme weather can be deadly. Know these resources:

Cold Weather

Warming centers: Cities open emergency shelters when temps drop below freezing. Call 211 or check city websites.
24-hour spaces: Hospital ERs, all-night diners, 24-hour gyms, Walmart stores (varies by location)
Free winter gear: Salvation Army, churches, One Warm Coat (onewarmcoat.org)
Signs of hypothermia: Confusion, slurred speech, drowsiness. Get to ER immediately.

Extreme Heat

Cooling centers: Libraries, malls, community centers open as cooling centers during heat waves
Water sources: Public fountains, ask at restaurants, emergency rooms
Heat exhaustion signs: Heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, headache. Get to cool place, drink water.
Heat stroke (emergency): Hot dry skin, confusion, loss of consciousness. Call 911 immediately.

💼 Path to Employment & Housing

Job Corps: Free job training + housing for ages 16-24. jobcorps.gov
Goodwill Career Centers: Free job training, resume help, interview clothes
Day labor: Labor Ready, PeopleReady - same-day work, daily pay
Housing First programs: Get housing FIRST, then support services. Many cities have these now.
Rapid Re-Housing: Short-term rent assistance to get you into an apartment quickly
Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers: Federal rent assistance. Long waitlists but worth applying.

For Organizations & Partners

Churches, nonprofits, landowners, and municipalities: here's how you can support dignified micro-shelter solutions and connect people with pathways to stability.

🏘️ Micro-Shelter Village Models

Across the US, cities and nonprofits are establishing sanctioned tiny house villages that provide immediate shelter plus case management services. These models work:

Community First! Village (Austin, TX)

Model: 51-acre master-planned community with 250+ micro-homes (under 400 sq ft)

Services: Permanent supportive housing with on-site case management, medical care, job training

Results: Houses over 400 formerly homeless residents. Residents can work on-site or in community

Cost: $10,000-15,000 per unit to build

Key insight: Giving people stable micro-housing FIRST, then layering services, works better than requiring sobriety/services before housing.

Dignity Village (Portland, OR)

Model: Resident-managed transitional housing community since 2000

Structure: Self-governed with elected council, work requirements, code of conduct

Housing: Mix of tiny houses and modified shelters on city-leased land

Success factors: Resident buy-in, democratic governance, low barrier to entry

Second Wind Cottages (Newfield, NY)

Model: 32 tiny homes (250 sq ft) for veterans

Services: Veterans Affairs partnership, mental health support, job placement

Cost: $18,000 per unit including land prep and utilities

📋 How to Start a Micro-Shelter Program

Step 1: Secure Land & Permissions

Church land: Many churches have unused land and strong community support
Municipal partnership: Work with city to get temporary use permits for city-owned land
Private donation: Landowners can donate land use (may qualify for tax benefits)
Zoning variance: Apply for temporary or permanent zoning changes. Cite emergency need.

Step 2: Build Support & Funding

Community meetings: Address NIMBY concerns early with data on reduced costs vs. shelters
Grant sources: HUD Continuum of Care, local foundations, corporate partnerships
Faith communities: Churches, synagogues, mosques often have construction volunteers
Build partners: Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCorps, local trade schools

Step 3: Services Integration

Case management: Partner with existing homeless services for on-site support
Mental health: Mobile crisis teams, peer support specialists
Healthcare: Partner with FQHC or Health Care for the Homeless
Job training: Residents can learn construction skills building their own shelters
Mail address: Critical for job applications, IDs, benefits. Consider using org address.

Step 4: Operational Model

Self-governance: Resident councils and peer accountability work better than top-down rules
Low-barrier entry: Don't require sobriety or service participation upfront (Housing First approach)
Exit planning: From day one, work on pathway to permanent housing
Safety protocols: Clear policies on violence, weapons, guest rules

💰 Cost Comparison: Shelters vs. Micro-Housing

Housing Type	Cost per Person/Year	Privacy	Effectiveness
Emergency Shelter Bed	$12,000 - $40,000	None (dorm style)	Low retention, high turnover
Transitional Housing	$15,000 - $25,000	Shared room	Moderate, time limits
Micro-Shelter Village	$8,000 - $15,000	Private unit	High retention, faster exit to housing
Permanent Supportive Housing	$20,000 - $40,000	Private apartment	Best outcomes, but limited availability

Key finding: Micro-shelters cost less than traditional shelters while providing privacy and dignity. This speeds transition to permanent housing.

🤝 For Employers: Hiring People Experiencing Homelessness

People with shelter-building experience have valuable skills. Here's how to make hiring work:

Practical Accommodations

Address barriers: Offer mail address for job applications, allow flexible start dates
Transportation: Near public transit, or help with bus passes/bike
Uniforms: Provide work clothes if needed
Pay schedule: Consider daily or weekly pay for first month (not waiting 2 weeks helps)

Skills Translation

People who've built their own shelters have demonstrated:

Problem-solving under resource constraints
Basic carpentry, framing, roofing skills
Project completion despite obstacles
Ability to work independently

Support Programs

Federal Bonding Program: Free insurance for at-risk hires (bonds.org)
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: Up to $9,600 tax credit per qualified hire
Supported employment programs: Job coaches help with transition

📞 Partnership Inquiries

This is an open-source project. You're free to:

Use these designs and resources for your own programs
Modify and adapt for your local context
Share with other organizations
Connect people in your community to these resources

We encourage local organizations to fork this concept and make it their own. If you launch a micro-shelter program using these ideas, consider documenting your experience to help others.

Additional Resources & Learning

Deeper information on tiny house regulations, sustainable living, and the broader housing justice movement.

📚 Essential Reading

Tiny House Regulations

American Tiny House Association: State-by-state guide to tiny house laws and zoning

Tiny House Build: Code requirements, foundation options, utility hookups

Housing First Research

National Alliance to End Homelessness: Evidence base for Housing First approach

SAMHSA resources: Integration of housing and health services

Community Organizing

National Homelessness Law Center: Know your rights, fight criminalization

Coalition on Homelessness: Advocacy training, policy change

🛠️ Skills & Training

Free Online Construction Training

YouTube channels: Essential Craftsman, Home RenoVision DIY, See Jane Drill
Habitat for Humanity: Free volunteer training days (you learn while building)
Local vocational programs: Many offer free carpentry basics
Home Depot workshops: Free in-store workshops on basic skills

Certifications That Help

OSHA 10: Basic construction safety (required for many jobs) - $25-50 online
Forklift certification: Opens warehouse jobs - often free through WorkSource
First Aid/CPR: Red Cross offers low-cost classes

🌍 The Bigger Picture

Micro-shelters are a short-term solution. The real solutions are systemic:

What Actually Ends Homelessness

Affordable housing supply: We need more housing at all income levels
Living wages: Minimum wage hasn't kept pace with housing costs
Healthcare access: Mental health and addiction treatment must be available
Safety net strengthening: Unemployment insurance, rental assistance, SNAP
Eviction prevention: Legal aid, mediation, emergency rent funds

Policy Changes That Help

Zoning reform: Allow ADUs, reduce parking requirements, legalize tiny homes
Decriminalization: Stop arresting people for sleeping outside
Right to rest: Legal protections for basic survival activities
Housing trust funds: Dedicated public funding for affordable housing
Rent control: Prevent displacement through rapid rent increases

🏛️ Know Your Rights

Basic legal protections (varies by location):

Right to shelter in some cities: NYC, DC, and Massachusetts guarantee shelter
Protection of belongings: Police must give notice before seizing your property in most places
Voting rights: You can vote even without a fixed address (use shelter/service address)
Access to public spaces: Libraries, parks, transit stations are public accommodations
Emergency medical care: ERs must treat you regardless of ability to pay (EMTALA)
School access for kids: McKinney-Vento Act ensures homeless kids can attend school

Legal help: Call your local Legal Aid office or visit lawhelp.org to find free legal services in your area.

📖 Download & Print Resources

All resources on this site are free to use, modify, and distribute. Consider making these available offline:

Print build guides as pocket-sized pamphlets
Save emergency hotline lists offline on your phone
Screenshot materials lists for shopping trips
Share PDFs at libraries, shelters, and community centers

This entire website is open source. Organizations are encouraged to adapt it for local use, translate it, or embed sections in their own resources.