ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - A homeless shelter in southwest Florida is starting a $1.25 million fundraising campaign to replace most of the shelter's 300 tents with 50 repurposed shipping containers.
The shelter, Pinellas Hope, spends about $50,000 a year replacing the tents. The containers require a one-time fee of $25,000 each to repurpose – an affordable alternative in long-term cost. Tampa Bay Times reportedthe containers are built to sustain Category 4 hurricane conditions.
The 8-foot-wide, 20-foot long containers are insulated and air conditioned with three separate units that include a bed, window and lockable door, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The shelter calls them "Hope Cottages."