This story is brought to you by Live in Everett Member, Houseplants Galore.

Header image courtesy of Pallet.

In November, Snohomish County was awarded $735,000 from the Department of Commerce for use in developing housing. It’s no secret that we need housing. We need more housing diversity, we need more housing affordability, and we need more housing...period. County and city leaders have discussed using the grant money to develop Pallet Shelter communities, among other housing options, in our city. 

Pallet is an Everett-based company that produces pallet shelters. Pallet is committed to “end unsheltered homelessness” by creating a product that provides shelter for the unhoused; and to “develop a nontraditional workforce” by hiring individuals who have experienced housing insecurity at some point in their lives. 

Pallet shelters come in 2 sizes - 64 and 100 sq. ft - and both can be built in a matter of hours and are move-in ready once completed. Unlike tents or other makeshift shelters often found in homeless encampments, these have heating, electricity, safety features, are mold- and pest-resistant, can be disinfected and have locks (among other features). Due to their size, these pallets can go essentially anywhere there’s a flat surface - whether that’s a parking lot, a grass field, or a gravel lot. Pets are also allowed in these shelters, which is oftentimes not the case with shelters or motels. 

Pallet shelters already in use across the country are ultimately safer, more cost-effective and give an individual more opportunities for stability than other kinds of shelters. 

As of now, several local non-profit organizations are interested in partnering with Pallet. This is especially important because, while Pallet shelters have some stabilizing benefits, they do not come with running water or hygiene facilities. They are designed with community engagement and action in mind so that people are not isolated. Residents will have support and resources to work toward permanent housing. 

Currently, we don’t know where these communities will be established. The grant is county-wide so Pallet may have the opportunity to create communities in several cities across Snohomish County. 

Everett would greatly benefit from a Pallet community - as they say, modern problems require modern solutions and, while homelessness and housing insecurity aren’t modern problems, we have yet to resolve this issue with tools we’ve used in the past. It’s a new year, and we should strengthen our community with new tools - like pallet shelters - in our toolbox. 

Pallet 

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Angela Di Filippo currently works in State Social Services and recently earned her Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology with extensive training in evidence-based leadership coaching. Angela moved from North Carolina to Washington 6 years ago and has proudly called Everett her home for 5 of those years. When not helping others solve problems in creative and strength-driven ways, Angela enjoys her time painting, hiking with her terrier-mix, Indy, and eating waffles.