Phoenix launches container-based transitional homes for seniors experiencing homelessness
Phoenix opened a 40-unit container community offering private, self-contained housing for adults 55 and older who are homeless.
Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Housing, together with nonprofit Mercy House, have turned 40 shipping containers into a transitional housing site for seniors facing homelessness. Each 160-square-foot unit includes a private bathroom, kitchen appliances and a bed, and the complex runs on solar power with battery storage. Residents aged 55 and older receive case-manager assistance and are encouraged to secure permanent housing within roughly three months.
The city contributed $750,000 for this initial phase and plans a $9.6 million second phase that will provide 56 permanent supportive apartments of about 750 sq ft each, with affordable rent and no utility charges. Construction of the permanent units is underway, with occupancy expected early December.
Why it matters
It shows a novel, low-cost approach to senior homelessness that could be replicated elsewhere.
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