THE NATION'S FIRST GREEN HOMELESS SHELTER

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INSIDE BAY AREA - With solar panels supplying electricity and
water-based hydronic heaters warming rooms in the 125-bed shelter, the
Crossroads building of the East Oakland Community Project is said to be
the first "green" homeless shelter in the nation. It replaces a cold,
damp and leaky building up the road on International that has been
housing homeless for the past 17 years.

"You'll wake up here and feel good because it's an environment that is
healthy. We are asking our people to deal with some heavy issues, so it
is best that we support their health," said Wendy Jackson, executive
director of the East Oakland Community Project. "Many of the clients are
ill, about 60 percent are ill, often with chronic diseases of asthma,
diabetes, so we wanted to do whatever we can to make this as healthy an
environment as possible," she said. The building, with high windows for
natural light and walls painted with a green paint that does not emit
toxins, has an airy, good feel to it.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_8063767

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