Why do we call it interim housing?

Interim Housing is a term currently embraced by numerous organizations, the housing sector, and government agencies to categorize shelter types such as sanctioned camping, safe parking, and interim shelters. These facilities are not intended to be permanent structures and may not be mandated to comply with building codes. The emergence of Interim Housing models is a response to the escalating issue of homelessness in many communities, offering temporary solutions to shelter needs.

Distinct from traditional congregate shelters, Interim Housing models gained prominence during the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. They proved to provide more privacy, support, and health safety, addressing the shortcomings experienced by congregate shelters during outbreaks.

While Interim Housing is at times interchangeably referred to as "transitional housing," the two terms carry nuanced differences. Transitional housing primarily denotes programmatic goals and supportive services designed to serve as a bridge between temporary and permanent housing. This concept encompasses shared housing, congregate or non-congregate shelters, domestic violence housing, and various other brick-and-mortar structures. While Interim Housing can indeed function as transitional housing, the inverse is not necessarily true, as transitional housing may manifest in diverse forms beyond the scope of Interim Housing.