Amazon has opened a homeless shelter in a high-rise on its Seattle campus — here's what it looks like

Aria BendixMay 22, 2020, 22:57 IST

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Amazon opened Washington state's largest family shelter in March.
The shelter occupies eight floors at the company's Seattle headquarters. It's large enough to allow social distancing among homeless guests.

The timing couldn't have been better: Just as Seattle was grappling with a severe coronavirus outbreak that posed a particular threat to its homeless population, Amazon opened the largest family shelter in Washington state.

"This new shelter, opening when it did, has been our saving grace," Marty Hartman, executive director of the local nonprofit Mary's Place, which operates the shelter, said in a statement. "This space ensures we don't have to return families to homelessness during this unprecedented and trying time."

The plan was three years in the making. In May 2017, Amazon set aside eight floors in its Seattle headquarters for a shelter operated by Mary's Place. The shelter opened in March, around the time that a nursing-home outbreak turned Seattle into a coronavirus hotspot.

Seattle has since contained its outbreak and loosened lockdown measures, but Gov. Jay Inslee has said that social distancing must continue. The new shelter enables homeless residents abide by these rules.

Here's what it looks like.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The shelter is located near Seattle's central business district. That places it within the epicenter of the city's homelessness crisis.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

The 63,000-square-foot shelter has its own entrance across the street from the Amazon Spheres — prominent glass domes that double as an employee workspace and greenhouse.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

The 63,000-square-foot shelter has its own entrance across the street from the Amazon Spheres — prominent glass domes that double as an employee workspace and greenhouse.

Up to 200 people can stay at the shelter each night. The facility also has room for 75 additional people during weather emergencies.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

In response to the pandemic, Mary's Place relocated vulnerable families from its other shelters to the new space.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Mary's Place estimates that nearly one-third of its homeless families include members who are at high risk of severe coronavirus cases.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Traditional homeless shelters can create breeding grounds for outbreaks, but the new shelter facilitates social distancing.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Many shelters only have showers. But the new one offers "hygiene areas" where occupants can take baths.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Four floors are reserved for sleeping. Families have individual, private rooms.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Another two floors are reserved for families of children with life-threatening illnesses.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

An on-site health clinic gives residents access to medical services.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

The shelter's frontline staff has access to face protectors, ear thermometers, gloves, and safety glasses.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Amazon is also providing monthly pro-bono legal counseling.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Amazon has offered to pay for the space's utilities, maintenance, and security for the next 10 years, or as long as Mary's Place needs it. It's also covering the rent.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Mary's Place will be responsible for funding its own operations, programming, and staff in the space.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Under normal circumstances, Amazon employees would be able to volunteer to teach coding classes, read to children, provide resume help, or do mock job interviews.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

An industrial kitchen is expected to produce 600,000 meals per year.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Adult guests are expected to perform around three hours of chores or another type of service each week.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Guests can also earn points by participating in activities that move them toward their housing and employment goals.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

The shelter has offices and computer labs.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

The space is soundproof, so guests won't hear the activity in Amazon offices and vice versa.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Children have access to WiFi and computers so they can attend classes online.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Kids can also play along the bike tracks on the shelter's rooftop deck.

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

6 key factors to consider when determining your risk of catching the coronavirus in any situation

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Amazon has opened a homeless shelter in a high-rise on its Seattle campus — here's what it looks like

The shelter is located near Seattle's central business district. That places it within the epicenter of the city's homelessness crisis.

The 63,000-square-foot shelter has its own entrance across the street from the Amazon Spheres — prominent glass domes that double as an employee workspace and greenhouse.

Up to 200 people can stay at the shelter each night. The facility also has room for 75 additional people during weather emergencies.

In response to the pandemic, Mary's Place relocated vulnerable families from its other shelters to the new space.

Mary's Place estimates that nearly one-third of its homeless families include members who are at high risk of severe coronavirus cases.

Traditional homeless shelters can create breeding grounds for outbreaks, but the new shelter facilitates social distancing.

Many shelters only have showers. But the new one offers "hygiene areas" where occupants can take baths.

Four floors are reserved for sleeping. Families have individual, private rooms.

Another two floors are reserved for families of children with life-threatening illnesses.

An on-site health clinic gives residents access to medical services.

The shelter's frontline staff has access to face protectors, ear thermometers, gloves, and safety glasses.

Amazon is also providing monthly pro-bono legal counseling.

Amazon has offered to pay for the space's utilities, maintenance, and security for the next 10 years, or as long as Mary's Place needs it. It's also covering the rent.

Mary's Place will be responsible for funding its own operations, programming, and staff in the space.

Under normal circumstances, Amazon employees would be able to volunteer to teach coding classes, read to children, provide resume help, or do mock job interviews.

An industrial kitchen is expected to produce 600,000 meals per year.

Adult guests are expected to perform around three hours of chores or another type of service each week.

Guests can also earn points by participating in activities that move them toward their housing and employment goals.

The shelter has offices and computer labs.

The space is soundproof, so guests won't hear the activity in Amazon offices and vice versa.

Children have access to WiFi and computers so they can attend classes online.

Kids can also play along the bike tracks on the shelter's rooftop deck.