Human Relations Committee looking for land to locate temporary shelter pods

LACONIA — Members of the Human Relations Committee's homelessness subcommittee saw a new prototype for pods intended to provide temporary shelter to unhoused people this week. Organizers of the project, including Kenzo Morris and other members of Real Life Church downtown, have already been in talks with Fire Chief Tim Joubert about safety requirements for the pods.

Created by Morris and builder Bill Higginbotham, the so-called God pods are intended to keep people experiencing homelessness out of the cold. The original design was 7 feet long by 3 feet wide — large enough to shelter one person — and contained a small wood stove for heat.

During a demonstration Tuesday afternoon at Real Life Church, the location of Morris’ Helping Hands soup kitchen, Morris and Higginbotham unveiled a new prototype 8 feet long and 3.5 feet wide, large enough for two. It's fitted with solar panels to power a battery for electrical appliances like a heater, lights, phone charger and coffee maker. The second prototype was built by churchgoers Peter Bissonette, Steve Spratte, Gary Patten and Bill Chandler.

The prototypes were built with donated materials. Real Life Church is fundraising to build more. The group is $900 shy of their $3,000 goal since beginning a couple weeks ago.

“It's just been an amazing thing to see how this community is coming together, and see what's going on, and really wants to make a difference,” Morris said.

The pods are estimated to cost about $500 per unit, but additional changes need to be made to meet certain fire and safety codes. Morris said Joubert inspected the pod and said God each needs to have straight walls to increase support and additional roof supports. They need to be bolted to the ground, they are required to have a front and back door, and must include a smoke detector and fire extinguisher. Joubert also asked for a list of all building materials to determine the fire rating of each.

While these changes alter the design, Morris believes the function is the same, and the changes aren’t difficult.

“It's all doable stuff,” Morris said.

The Human Relations Committee's homelessness subcommittee met at Real Life Church Thursday afternoon. The priority is finding a place to put the pods. One possibility offered by Human Relations Chair Pat Wood was a strip of land near Court Street and Rowe Court downtown. It is city owned, with little residential property nearby.

“That might be the perfect location for this type of a campground,” Wood said. “Obviously, there are a lot more questions that we need to think about.”

Land-use approval would ultimately go before city council.

To follow performance zoning rules, a building would need to be constructed with bathrooms and showers for pod users.

The subcommittee intends to lay ground rules and regulations for those who wish to use the pods. Users would sign a document agreeing not to bring trash in or abuse substances there. There would likely be a small monthly fee to stay in the pods. A stay might last as long as six months to a year if users follow the rules, but may leave anytime. Fees would be used for upkeep and to encourage people to transition into alternative housing.

Joia Hughes, the city's director of economic and housing development, attended the meeting. She said it’s important to establish the transitional steps, which she called the continuum of care.

“How do you get someone from homelessness to permanently housed?” she asked.

Hughes compared the pod initiative to 45 temporary single-person pallet shelters that opened recently in Providence, Rhode Island.

The subcommittee is considering creating a nonprofit to operate the pods, aimed at transparency around use of funds, an idea Human Relations Committee member Richard Littlefield liked.

“I'm thinking that you might be on a good road, because through that nonprofit, we could have an account opened up,” he said.

Littlefield intends to keep city residents updated as progress continues.

“It will have transparency. That's what you know you can get from me,” he said. “We're going to be transparent on the process, phase by phase, and as things come out, it'll be published.”

The subcommittee acknowledged an initiative to help people experiencing homelessness would face criticism from some residents. Real Life Church Pastor Tim Vercellono hopes the plan will be well received, but believes they should face any complaints head on.

“I'm a pretty optimistic guy, but the little pessimism that runs through my veins, I would want to go to somebody and say, ‘Well, if we complain, what suggestion do you have?’” Vercellono said.

Morris said while the group is accepting feedback, city leaders need to be strong in their determination to complete the project.

“You always have that naysayer, but what are they going to do? They're just going to stand there and say 'nay,'” he said. “They're not going to keep walking, pushing the ball to get to what needs to happen.”

Committee member Matt Soza asked people to have empathy for unsheltered people. He said there are different reasons why someone experiences homelessness, and pods give everyone the potential to better their circumstances.

“They've got the same range of possibilities in them, good and bad as anyone,” he said. “And one way or another, at some point, the society pays for what it does and what it does not do.”