The German city of Ulm, which is about 75 miles west of Munich, has come up with a unique way to protect its homeless during the winter. They have placed these pods, called “sleep pods,” in public areas like parks and plazas where it is common for homeless people to gather and sleep.
‘Ulmer Nest’
The Ulmer Nests are tiny housing pods constructed of wood and steel that may house a couple. They generate power through solar panels, keeping the occupants warm and dry while circulating fresh air throughout. Additionally, a radio network is powered by the solar energy, allowing residents to talk to one another even when there is no cell phone service or data available.
How they work
You can enter and leave the cabins without signing in. A social worker is alerted when one is opened so that they can visit the person in the morning and encourage them to use homeless services if they haven’t previously. Beyond this, their identities are kept secret in an effort to increase their adoption. Caritas Ulm-Alb-Donau, the organization in charge of the program, fixes and cleans every unit after each use.
The project
The shelter project began two years ago with a few prototypes developed by internet entrepreneurs. Following its tremendous success, Ulm chose to install the most recent versions on January 8th of this year.
Residents of the city, homeless and otherwise, are responding warmly to the idea, and local officials have shown their support. The project has also had some unexpected benefits, such as neighbors of the shelters bringing drinks or food to the tenants. The unusual “Ulmer Nests,” which resemble sculptures, are protecting those without homes from the deadly winter weather.
