More emergency shelter will soon be available for homeless people thanks to a partnership between Seattle Vocational Institute (SVI), a division of Seattle Central College, Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise). Through this collaboration, students in SVI’s Pre-Apprentice Construction Training program (PACT) will design and build eight “tiny homes” for homeless during a one day event to take place this Fri., Aug. 18, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Seattle Vocational Institute, 2120 South Jackson Street, Seattle.
Students and faculty will work alongside expert contractors and community business sponsors/volunteers to construct the houses, including framing, roofing, insulation and more. As part of the partnership, LIHI will provide instruction, tools, materials and other items necessary to complete construction.
The PACT program teaches students the skills to enter the construction trade. It is one of several programs offered at SVI, which provides short-term job training for people in low-income and communities of color to enter high demand fields, such as healthcare, IT and construction, leading to well-paying jobs.
“As homelessness in the region persists, it is important that our college join with the community to develop solutions,” said Seattle Central College President Sheila Edwards Lange, Ph.D. “This is a win-win – we can provide housing for people while creating a hands-on opportunity for our students to learn marketable construction skills.”
Enterprise and seven housing and community development partners will construct the tiny homes as part of their Jim Rouse Day of Service, an annual, daylong volunteer event named after Enterprise’s founder.
“We are very grateful to the participating businesses and organizations that purchased the materials and to their employees who will volunteer time to build the homes,” said Lorena Greig, senior asset management, Enterprise Community Investment, a subsidiary of Enterprise. “We are proud to work with our longtime partner LIHI in creating these secured shelters and the opportunity for the residents to move into a permanent home.”
“With 5,485 unsheltered homeless people in Seattle and King County, we are thrilled at the opportunity to partner on this volunteer opportunity with SVI students and Enterprise. Each of the eight organizations raised $2,500 to purchase wood for the tiny houses. The houses will make an immediate impact in the lives of homeless families and individuals in our region,” said LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee.
Once completed, the tiny houses will be moved to tiny house village sites in King and Snohomish counties. The houses are approximately 120 square feet and have electricity and light.
