Within cities, locating suitable land for interim supportive housing can be a challenge. However, there are creative solutions available. By leveraging empty and underutilized land and/or repurposing existing spaces, cities can access a multitude of land options where they can develop interim housing. See below for some ideas:
- City-Owned Parks and Open Spaces
Cities may have underused sections of public parks or open spaces that could be temporarily allocated for supportive housing. By building modular housing units like BOSS Cubez, cities can minimize the impact on these areas while addressing immediate housing needs.
- Faith-Based Properties and Church Land
Today, there is a movement toward faith-based organizations providing land for interim housing. Partnering with faith-based organizations can provide land for interim housing, often with community support. Many religious organizations own land that is underused, such as parking lots. Some churches are already converting spaces into tiny homes and temporary shelters.
- Public-Private Partnerships
Your community can collaborate with private developers and landowners to create public-private partnerships (P3s) that leverage private land for public use. These partnerships can help overcome funding and zoning challenges by pooling resources and expertise.
- Transportation and Utility Corridors
Some cities have access to unused land along transportation corridors such as railway lines, highways, or utility easements. These can be easily turned into space for interim housing. With the right planning and safety measures, modular units can often be accommodated even if there are zoning restrictions.
- Public Housing Authority Land
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) may own undeveloped or underutilized land that can be repurposed. Working closely with PHAs can facilitate access to these spaces and ensure alignment with long-term housing goals.
- Land Owned by Universities and Colleges
Some universities and colleges own large plots of land, including parking lots and open fields. Other colleges are facing challenges around their own students becoming homeless while attending school and are searching for solutions on their own campuses. Partnering with educational institutions can be a win-win, particularly if the projects align with the school’s community service initiatives.
- Land Trusts, Community Land Banks & Tax-Delinquent Properties
Land trusts and community land banks manage vacant, abandoned, or tax-delinquent properties. Acquiring these properties through auctions or land banks provides an opportunity to convert neglected spaces into community assets.
- Private Landowners with Vacant Lots
Working with private landowners who hold vacant lots or land parcels can be another way to go. Offering tax incentives, leases, or other benefits can encourage private owners to make their land available to the city interim housing.
- Vacant Industrial Land
Vacant industrial sites can also be repurposed into supportive housing, especially in areas zoned for mixed-use or light industrial activities. These sites often have large, open spaces that can be easily adapted for communal living areas or modular housing units.
- Unused Government Properties
Cities often own vacant or underused properties, such as closed schools, parking lots, and other government-owned land. One popular option is for local government to lease their land, allowing housing solutions to be implemented for a period of time, until the land is needed in the future.
Conclusion
Identifying land for interim supportive housing requires cities to explore a range of options. BOSS Cubez modular housing units can be built on any of the above spaces for temporary housing, as we have done over the past 5 years in several cities across California including Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Los Angeles and others. The units are assembled easily and are rapidly re-deployable with forklift slots to enable relocation.
For more information about setting up interim housing in your community, contact:
Kris Van Giesen
Vice President of Community Development
krisvg@bosscubez.com 323-313-4084