Pardubice plans to build a new shelter house from containers

Pardubice - Pardubice have begun designing a new shelter for men, which will include a low-threshold center. The new Service Center for homeless people will be constructed from containers, and the construction will take less time than that of brick buildings. This was stated today by Deputy Mayor Jakub Rychtecký (Žijeme Pardubice/SOCDEM).

"The existing spaces of the shelter and dormitories on Milheimova Street do not meet the needs and parameters. There are often people with disabilities who require barrier-free spaces," said Rychtecký.

A three-story building is to be created with a shelter for men, which will have space for 23 people in seven double and three triple rooms on the upper floors. The city plans to have a low-threshold day center with a capacity of up to 35 places on the ground floor.

"In the center, we also count on additional services in the form of very well-functioning offices for persons at risk of social exclusion, as well as dormitories for men with a capacity of 12 beds and for women with nine beds," Rychtecký said.

Container construction is advantageous because it can be completed more quickly, including the demolition of the original building, in approximately six to nine months. Brick buildings take longer to construct. The containers can also be relocated; if the city has other plans for the Na Staré poště area, it can move the shelter elsewhere, the deputy noted. A low-threshold center and offices are already functioning in the area.

The current low-threshold day center building will be completely demolished, and a new container service building will be constructed here. Clients will come from the street Na Staré poště, while employees will enter through back entrances via the adjacent area, where parking for personal vehicles is possible. "The entire building will, of course, be completely barrier-free," said architect Vítězslav Táborský from Air atelier.

When preparing the study, the investment costs were estimated at 65 million crowns at the end of 2022. The city could obtain part of the funds from the sale of the building on Milheimova Street and will also seek suitable grants. "We will also examine the possibility of grants for green roofs. If successful, the containers could also be suitable for the installation of green roofs in the ground-level areas of the dormitories and doctor's offices for homeless people," said Deputy Mayor Jiřina Klčová (ANO).

There is another shelter for women and mothers with children in Pardubice. Both facilities are operated with the help of the city by SKP center.

The new center could start operating in Na Staré poště as early as 2026.