A Washington company is creating $5,000 prefab tiny homes that can be setup in 30 minutes to help solve the homelessness crisis - see how it works

Brittany ChangJan 24, 2021, 20:30 IST

The Shelter 64.Pallet

Pallet is building tiny homes for people who have lost their homes due to natural and personal disasters.
Like other tiny home makers, Pallet saw an uptick in popularity last year.
The tiny homes can be installed close to each other to create a community of Pallet units.

Expensive tiny homes have been in high demand since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, a tiny home maker specializing in personal units for the homeless has also seen a surge in interest.

Pallet, a social purpose company, creates shelters for people facing homelessness as a result of natural and personal disasters. These personal tiny homes can be set up in multiples to create small communities, allowing occupants to have safety and privacy away from larger community shelter buildings.

"What we felt was really missing from the housing spectrum was a dignified shelter option that honored their individuality and allowed them to have autonomy in their rehabilitation process," Amy King, founder and CEO of Pallet, told Insider.

The company's main customer base is municipalities, although it's received orders from nonprofits, religious organizations, and people who own plots of land.

According to King, while the tiny home community concept has been present for some time now, it's definitely become more of a trend as of late.

Like other tiny home makers, Pallet first started seeing an uptick in interest in March 2020. However, when early October hit, municipalities started realizing they would need individual shelters for people without homes during COVID-19-plagued wintertime.

This realization then created a second wave of Pallet interest in the same year.

The units were initially designed to serve as shelters for people who had lost their homes due to natural disasters, such as fires.

Pallet shelters in Santa Cruz, California. Pallet

However, the company started opening its scope of potential occupants when homelessness began reaching a similar "disaster emergency level," according to King.

Pallet shelters in Fresno, California. Pallet

Despite the potential to capitalize off of the tiny home boom, Pallet currently does not sell any of its units to one-off costumers looking for a backyard tiny home.

Pallet shelters in Santa Cruz, California. Pallet

"Right now, we are heavily focused on the humanitarian crisis in front of us," King said. "We will not stop until homelessness has ended in this country, so that's where we're focusing our attention for the time being."

The Shelter 64. Pallet

"Right now, we are heavily focused on the humanitarian crisis in front of us," King said. "We will not stop until homelessness has ended in this country, so that's where we're focusing our attention for the time being."

Last year, Pallet built over 1,500 new beds across the US. There are now Pallets in states like California, Minnesota, Texas, and Hawaii.

The Pallet 100. Pallet

It took Pallet five or six different iterations before it settled on this final design.

Pallet shelters in Multnomah County. Multnomah County

Pallet offers two shelter sizes: the 64-square-foot Pallet 64, and the 100-square-foot Pallet 100. Prices start at $4,900 and $7,000, respectively.

Pallet shelters in Fresno, California. Pallet

The sleeping cabins consist of an aluminum frame and fiber-reinforced plastic composite walls.

The Pallet factory. Pallet

These walls are insulated, but the home also comes with a heater and an air conditioner.

The Pallet 100. Pallet

Like any home, the shelters are equipped with safety elements like a lockable door, a smoke detector, and a carbon monoxide monitor.

Pallet shelters in Santa Cruz, California. Pallet

The shelters can accommodate up to four beds with a folding bunk bed system, although the beds can optionally be replaced with desks.

The Pallet 100. Pallet

In terms of storage, the tiny home has shelves and room for under-bed storage.

The Shelter 64. Pallet

The structure can withstand up to 100 mile-per-hour winds and manage up to 25 pounds per square-foot of snow.

Pallet shelters in Multnomah County. Multnomah County

If that's not enough, Pallet also has an "extreme weather" version originally developed for a Hood River, Oregon location.

Pallet shelters in Multnomah County. Multnomah County

However, none of the homes have bathrooms. This was intentional: the company wants its units to serve as "temporary stabilizing shelters" while its occupants wait for a more permanent option.

Pallet shelters in Multnomah County. Multnomah County

However, none of the homes have bathrooms. This was intentional: the company wants its units to serve as "temporary stabilizing shelters" while its occupants wait for a more permanent option.

Also, plumbing is expensive and more difficult to maintain, which would have driven the tiny home's price up.

Pallet shelters in Santa Cruz, California. Pallet

With that being said, Pallet is currently prototyping a bathroom and has previously trialed a community room. Looking forward, Pallet might test a kitchen facility as well.

Pallet shelters in Multnomah County. Multnomah County

With that being said, Pallet is currently prototyping a bathroom and has previously trialed a community room. Looking forward, Pallet might test a kitchen facility as well.

The units have a lifespan of more than 10 years, but many people only reside in these tiny homes for months at a time.

The Shelter 64. Pallet

The units are also easy to clean and sanitize in between occupants, which is key given the homelessness emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pallet 100. Pallet

Unlike permanent "congregate" shelter options that could take years to build, Pallet's prefabricated tiny homes can be setup in under 30 minutes, and a full village can be created within 10 days.

Pallet shelters in Multnomah County. Multnomah County

Unlike permanent "congregate" shelter options that could take years to build, Pallet's prefabricated tiny homes can be setup in under 30 minutes, and a full village can be created within 10 days.

This allows Pallet to quickly and inexpensively address the homelessness crisis in the US.

The Shelter 64. Pallet

While Pallet specializes in making individual shelters, the company recognizes the need for community shelters as well.

Pallet shelters in Santa Cruz, California. Pallet

"Unfortunately, the homelessness crisis in this country has escalated to a point that we need all products," King said. "Each person needs something different, and we need to have a diversified opportunity for people to get their needs met."

Pallet shelters in Multnomah County. Multnomah County

"Unfortunately, the homelessness crisis in this country has escalated to a point that we need all products," King said. "Each person needs something different, and we need to have a diversified opportunity for people to get their needs met."

Homelessness isn't the only issue Pallet is tackling.

Pallet shelters in Santa Cruz, California. Pallet

The Washington-based company's "social purpose" title means it serves as a combination between a for-profit and a non-profit organization.

The Pallet 100. Pallet

As a result, profits made are put back into the company's two main missions: stopping "unsheltered homelessness," and creating a "nontraditional workforce."

The Pallet 100. Pallet

To the latter point, 90% of Pallet's employees have once faced addiction, incarceration, or homelessness.

The Pallet factory. Pallet

Pallet offers these employees workforce and "life skills" training, which includes teaching them how to start a bank account or get an ID.

Pallet shelters in Santa Cruz, California. Pallet

"If we didn't have them, I don't think we'd be nearly [as successful]," King said. "They're not just workers for us, they're helping lead the concept here."

The Pallet factory. Pallet

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A Washington company is creating $5,000 prefab tiny homes that can be setup in 30 minutes to help solve the homelessness crisis - see how it works

The units were initially designed to serve as shelters for people who had lost their homes due to natural disasters, such as fires.

However, the company started opening its scope of potential occupants when homelessness began reaching a similar "disaster emergency level," according to King.

Despite the potential to capitalize off of the tiny home boom, Pallet currently does not sell any of its units to one-off costumers looking for a backyard tiny home.

"Right now, we are heavily focused on the humanitarian crisis in front of us," King said. "We will not stop until homelessness has ended in this country, so that's where we're focusing our attention for the time being."

Last year, Pallet built over 1,500 new beds across the US. There are now Pallets in states like California, Minnesota, Texas, and Hawaii.

It took Pallet five or six different iterations before it settled on this final design.

Pallet offers two shelter sizes: the 64-square-foot Pallet 64, and the 100-square-foot Pallet 100. Prices start at $4,900 and $7,000, respectively.

The sleeping cabins consist of an aluminum frame and fiber-reinforced plastic composite walls.

These walls are insulated, but the home also comes with a heater and an air conditioner.

Like any home, the shelters are equipped with safety elements like a lockable door, a smoke detector, and a carbon monoxide monitor.

The shelters can accommodate up to four beds with a folding bunk bed system, although the beds can optionally be replaced with desks.

In terms of storage, the tiny home has shelves and room for under-bed storage.

The structure can withstand up to 100 mile-per-hour winds and manage up to 25 pounds per square-foot of snow.

If that's not enough, Pallet also has an "extreme weather" version originally developed for a Hood River, Oregon location.

However, none of the homes have bathrooms. This was intentional: the company wants its units to serve as "temporary stabilizing shelters" while its occupants wait for a more permanent option.

Also, plumbing is expensive and more difficult to maintain, which would have driven the tiny home's price up.

With that being said, Pallet is currently prototyping a bathroom and has previously trialed a community room. Looking forward, Pallet might test a kitchen facility as well.

The units have a lifespan of more than 10 years, but many people only reside in these tiny homes for months at a time.

The units are also easy to clean and sanitize in between occupants, which is key given the homelessness emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike permanent "congregate" shelter options that could take years to build, Pallet's prefabricated tiny homes can be setup in under 30 minutes, and a full village can be created within 10 days.

This allows Pallet to quickly and inexpensively address the homelessness crisis in the US.

While Pallet specializes in making individual shelters, the company recognizes the need for community shelters as well.

"Unfortunately, the homelessness crisis in this country has escalated to a point that we need all products," King said. "Each person needs something different, and we need to have a diversified opportunity for people to get their needs met."

Homelessness isn't the only issue Pallet is tackling.

The Washington-based company's "social purpose" title means it serves as a combination between a for-profit and a non-profit organization.

As a result, profits made are put back into the company's two main missions: stopping "unsheltered homelessness," and creating a "nontraditional workforce."

To the latter point, 90% of Pallet's employees have once faced addiction, incarceration, or homelessness.

Pallet offers these employees workforce and "life skills" training, which includes teaching them how to start a bank account or get an ID.

"If we didn't have them, I don't think we'd be nearly [as successful]," King said. "They're not just workers for us, they're helping lead the concept here."