What Is a Temporary Home?

Emergency Shelter

• Some communities have establishments that help homeless people obtain food, water and a safe place to sleep. These emergency shelters are designed to alleviate the immediate dangers of violence and starvation that homeless people face on the streets. Unfortunately, these services are only a stopgap solution to the problem of homelessness. Often, emergency shelters are unable to provide the privacy, length of stay and individual care characteristic of a true temporary home

Transitional Shelters

• Transitional homeless shelters, or temporary homes, are also programs designed to serve the needs of homeless individuals and families. In addition to providing food and shelter, these institutions offer additional services aimed at helping residents transition out of homelessness. At a temporary home, residents are more likely to have a private room or dormitory in which they are allowed to stay for an extended period.

  Many temporary homes are designed as a safe environment for families to stay while parents seek employment and financial stability. Temporary homes may provide services such as child care, education, medical care, mental health counseling and career guidance. Some shelters restrict their clientele to only families with young children, while others allow adults and teenagers.

Displaced Refugees

• While the issue of chronic homelessness is a persistent concern for many cities, one-time disasters may also displace large populations from their homes. Unlike temporary homeless shelters, which are often organized on a community level, shelters designed for refugees are often funded by state or federal organizations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency works with state services to provide temporary homes to disaster survivors. These temporary homes may be travel trailers, mobile homes or other easily assembled buildings that comply with FEMA standards.

Transitional Shelter Standards

• The Transitional Shelter Safety Project outlines requirements for small, easily-assembled shelters used for refugees around the world. The standards vary depending on weather: shelters in an area at risk for hurricanes must be able to withstand high winds, while buildings subject to snow much have sloping roofs. Ventilation, fire safety and durability requirements protect the safety of inhabitants, while privacy, size and color restrictions are designed for comfort and cultural sensitivity.