Cold Weather Shelter

[fatboy]

I have been asked my professional opinion on a proposed cold weather shelter for the homeless, used during the winter. This is in a neighboring jurisdiction.

The proposed occupants are not allowed to go in until 5:00 pm, and must be out by 7:00am. There is no cooking, meals are brought in in warming appliances. They eat, roll out mats, and sleep.

The location that is being proposed, 9,000 sf, was previously classified as an A-2, it was a events center, and is part of a large sprawling building, maybe 200K sq ft. Wedding, parties, quinceanera's, (Latin culture, 15th year female birthdays, 500+ folks), receptions, etc. were the common uses.

Biggest questions, yes, the entire building is fully sprinklered and alarmed.

Yes, there are accessible restrooms, 4 lavs, 3 urinals, three WC's )1 accessible) for the men, and 6 lavs, seven WC's, 1 accessible) for the women. The population is actually going to be primarily male.

So, the closest occupancy in my thinking is R-1, transient. Does not necessarily fit any of the laundry lists by definition, but I think that is what it is.

2012 IBC is in effect, so this is a change of use, and the IEBC states an A-2 to R-1 is an equal hazard in all three categories.

So, give me your thoughts. What should/could the jurisdiction see as a problem for this?

 

[cda]

Are they going to divide the place or already somewhat divided for?!!

Men
Woman
Families



No smoking in the facility

Smoke detection throughout any sleeping area,,, tied into the fire alarm system.

Make sure exit is good

Other than that not much problem

 

[ICE]

Emergency lighting.....illuminated exits and signs.....locked janitors closets.....constant supervision.....space for shopping carts.....

 

[fatboy]

Smoking is not allowed.

Fully alarmed already.

Separations for the occupants? That's in their court.

Check marks on all the issues ICE brings up.Except the shopping carts........again in their court.

 

[cda]

Smoking is not allowed.

Fully alarmed already.

Separations for the occupants? That's in their court.

Check marks on all the issues ICE brings up.Except the shopping carts........again in their court.

Fully alarmed already.

Smoke detectors tied into fire alarm system in the areas there will be sleeping ??

 

[north star]

# = #

IMO, ...your scenario also resembles an I-4.

What about any type of security or basic [ custodial ]
care ?......If a medical needs arises with in the transient
population, who responds & how [ i.e. - who would call
for assistance ] ?

As Transient Shelters go, if the intent is to provide
shelter to transients, is there any intent to also provide
human assistance [ i.e. - bldg. staff, security or medical
persons on premises ] ?

# = #

 

[cda]

# = #

IMO, ...your scenario also resembles an I-4.

What about any type of security or basic [ custodial ]
care ?......If a medical needs arises with in the transient
population, who responds & how [ i.e. - who would call
for assistance ] ?

As Transient Shelters go, if the intent is to provide
shelter to transients, is there any intent to also provide
human assistance [ i.e. - bldg. staff, security or medical
persons on premises ] ?

# = #

Pray tell why

I-4. ???

 

[north star]

# = #

" Pray tell why "

To [ possibly ] receive some type of Custodial Care.

# = #

 

[fatboy]

They receive no care there, not part of the plan.

Sleeping only, and they are supervised. Person's (2) supervising the occupant would call for emergency services as you would for any public place, indoors or outdoors.

 

[Sleepy]

I don't see the I-4 as appropriate because this situation doesn't seem to meet the definition of "custodial care". R-1, Boarding House (Transient) with more than 10 occupants, seems right to me. The quantity and distribution of toilet facilities might be a problem per Chapter 29 which, for R-1, wants 1 toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower per sleeping unit; not sure how that should be applied to this situation. I think the lack of showers would be a problem for the R-1 occupancy.

 

[steveray]

I don't see any further "building" issues, most likely with the high rate of mental illness in homeless, "people" issues will be more likely...

 

[Yikes]

My firm worked on a very similar project here in So Cal. We converted a former Army warehouse into a giant homeless shelter. It would be classified in today's code as R-1, and other portions of the facility were R-2.1 due to some of the rehab programs going on there.
Our biggest issues were the size of the facility - - we had to provide area separation walls to make it fit within the code limitations at that time.
The other big issue was that we wanted people to have some privacy, but we didn't want to create a corridor situation. Instead, we built max 5'-6" high "cubicles" that each held 2 beds, an amoire, and a desk. The homeless residents loved them! It turns out that many people who live on the streets are nervous with being in tightly enclosed spaces. Some of them have been assaulted in close quarters, and a quasi-private cubicle space feels more secure to them than a totally enclosed bedroom.
These small cubicles were open to the 25'+ high warehouse ceiling, so in effect the warehouse was one giant sleeping room. We worked with the local fire official to meet the sleeping room smoke detection requirement via optical beam smoke detectors across the large volume of the warehouse.

 

[Brittany Looney]

Hello @Yikes!
It is probably a good idea of converting a former Army warehouse into a giant homeless shelter. There are many ways that one can give to help for those who needs a homeless shelter.
I was running my own business, taking classes at the local college, taking care of the interior and exterior of our home, and taking care of my mom. But, a few months before I had read an article that most homeless shelters say volunteers are always welcome, and in setting aside the time to volunteer, one can directly give back and aid others who need it most. So, I had decided to become a volunteer in West Chester, PA homeless home. I had found out that they provide a bed for the night for those people who do not have any home they can go to. They also provide soup kitchen that provides hot meals free of charge and with much more facilities. I think a homeless shelter is more than just a means to keep displaced people off of the street.

 

[mtlogcabin]

the alarms should be the high frequency and i would look into asking for an emergency voice/alarm communication system depending on the occupant load. The mental health of the occupants may not be able to react to just an alarm ringing in their heads so a voice/alarm communication system might be better.