Metro Nashville is seeking proposals from community partners and intends to award up to 25 pallet shelters for use as temporary housing.
These shelters will offer safe, private spaces that serve as an alternative for individuals who cannot easily access group shelter settings, whether due to safety concerns, having pets, wanting to remain with a partner, or other barriers.
"These shelters are temporary housing solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors who need to be housed and connected with supportive services," Mayor Freddie O'Connell said. "I'm grateful for the work of the working group that has facilitated the repurposing of these shelters from infectious disease aids to temporary emergency housing options."
The RFP asks for proposals from non-profits and community partners who can do the following:
- Prepare the pallet shelter site for use and ensure compliance
- Provide resident services and operational oversight
- Coordinate on-side supportive services
- Track and report shelter use in conjunction with the Homeless Management Information Systems
"We are eager to deploy the pallet shelters," said April Calvin, Director of the Office of Homeless Services. "It's going to take all creative solutions to address the need."
Council member Erin Evans added, "Eliminating the barriers to use our pallet shelters as a temporary housing option has been a collaborative effort across many Metro stakeholders including Metro Department of Public Health, Office of Homeless Services, Office of Emergency Management and Metro Codes. I appreciate Mayor O'Connell's support in offering these shelters to community organizations with this RFP."
Full proposals are due to Metro by June 20, 2025.
Metro will support this work by the chosen community partners by applying the required thermal barrier, covering the cost of transporting the pallet shelters to the proposed site, covering the cost of assembly and any necessary repairs.