Best Practices in Emergency Shelters & Services Centers
To be accepted in communities it is important to have shelters that are an asset to the community not only in the manner in which they are run, but the quality of the construction itself. Being 'green' and beautiful have definite benefits! We deliberately combine the emergency shelter section with services centers because the link between quality services is critical to helping people regain their lives. Please see links below for best practices among emergency shelters.
Austin Resource Center for the Homeless
This project is on the American Institute of Architechure's (AIA) Top 10 list of Green Projects!
From the AIA's website: http://www.aiatopten.org/hpb/overview.cfm?ProjectID=470
Overview Location:
Austin, TX.
New construction 26,800 sq. feet
Completed April 2004
Rating: Austin Energy Green Building Program --Level: Five Stars
Much more than an emergency shelter, the Resource Center serves as a meeting place and support center, helping people transition out of homelessness through its many programs. The building includes a large common-use room, showers and locker rooms, laundry facilities, a computer room, an art studio, and offices for various community-support agencies. A clinic, located on the first floor, provides health services. The second floor houses a large commercial kitchen and dining room. Located on the third floor in a pavilion-like structure on the roof is the 100-bed overnight shelter. The sleeping area's rooftop terrace opens up to panoramic views of the city.
This project was chosen as an AIA Committee on the Environment Green Project for 2005.
Environmental Aspects The Resource Center is sited on a former brownfield in downtown Austin, within easy access of several bus lines. The project also includes preferred parking for carpools, storage space for bicycles, and a fueling station for an electric car. A 13,000-gallon rainwater collection system supplements the building's water supply. A passive-solar hot-water system preheats water for the showers, and a photovoltaic array supplements electricity usage. The "stack-cast tilt-frame" structural system reduced the amount of finished materials and form work used on the building and increases the quality of the exposed concrete finish. Flyash was used to replace 45% of the cement in the concrete. Concrete and other structural materials were left exposed in much of the building. Many of the materials used in the project contain rapidly renewable or recycled content. The project also includes FSC-certified wood and a range of locally manufactured materials. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products were avoided. The strong connection between the interior and exterior, created through the numerous interpenetrating volumes, allows natural light and views into more than 90% of the work spaces. About 10% of the space can be naturally ventilated. Materials with low emissions of volatile organic compounds also contribute to a healthy environment. 
Gateway Center in Atlanta
Website: http://www.gatewayctr.org/
The Gateway Center is the centerpiece of the Regional Commission on Homelessness' effort to impact chronic homelessness. The Gateway Center is the point of entry – the gateway – to the community’s continuum of care created to help homeless individuals move out of dependency. The Gateway Center will offer homeless individuals an opportunity to disconnect from the issues that contributed to their homelessness by connecting them with the specific services they need to move toward self-sufficiency.
