A homeless shelter is a facility that first and foremost provides a roof over the head of homeless people, and secondly, gives them beds to sleep in.
The mode of operation of homeless shelters makes it impossible to install regular big beds, hence you will always find different types of bunk beds in homeless shelters. The reason why homeless shelters use bunk beds is to maximize the limited space they have.
If you are planning to furnish your homeless shelter and you want to get the best bunk beds that will serve their purpose, then you must consider key factors such as safety, ease of cleaning, space optimization, and the specific needs of the shelter’s clients.
Note that when installing bunk beds, you are required to adhere to local safety regulations and building codes because the well-being of shelter residents is a top priority to the government.
Interestingly, several types of bunk beds are suitable for homeless shelters, depending on the specific requirements and available space, but most of these bunk beds don’t come in any brand name, hence we will look at the design or type. The bunk beds discussed in this article could be made of metal or wood.
Metal bunk beds are known for their durability and are often used in high-traffic environments like shelters, while wooden bunk beds offer a warmer and more home-like aesthetic, which can be beneficial in creating a more inviting and comfortable environment.
Best Bunk Beds for Homeless Shelter
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Standard Twin Bunk Beds
Standard twin bunk beds are the most traditional and widely used type of bunk beds in shelters. Standard twin bunk beds hold twin-size mattresses.
It measures 75 inches long and 38 inches wide, works on both top and bottom bunk beds, and can be a good fit for children, teenagers, and adults under 6 feet tall.
One good thing about standard twin-size bunk beds is that they can easily fit in basically any bedroom or open dormitory in a homeless shelter. All you need is vertical space to fit the height of the standard twin bunk beds.
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Triple Bunk Beds
A triple bunk bed is by far the best solution when you need to sleep three (or more) people in one room in a homeless shelter. A triple bunk bed typically features a 3-tier bunk bed stacked vertically in twin or full sizes.
In order to use triple bunk beds in your homeless shelter, you need to have at least a 9′ ceiling and use a 6″ thick mattress.
This is so because you will get 27″ of space between the bunks. The fact that most homeless shelters are usually constrained for space makes triple bunk beds an ideal solution for them.
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L-Shaped Bunk Beds
Depending on the shape of the room or dormitory in the homeless shelter, L-shaped bunk beds might just be the perfect fit for you.
L-shaped bunk beds are designed in an L configuration, where one bed is positioned perpendicular to the other. L-shaped bunk beds come in various materials, heights, bed size combinations, and number of beds.
Traditional L-shaped bunk beds have a twin-sized mattress on top positioned horizontally and a twin bunk bed on the bottom set perpendicularly underneath to form an L shape.
One good thing about L-shaped bunk beds is that they are designed in such a way that they can provide privacy and separate sleeping areas within a shared space especially when accommodating people who are not families and are meeting for the first time in a homeless shelter.
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Bunk Beds with Storage
Although some homeless shelters are known to only provide one night accommodation for homeless people, there are several homeless shelters that accommodate homeless people, and work with them till they find their feet and move on.
If that is the type of homeless shelter you have and you are shopping for bunk beds, you may want to consider bunk beds with storage. These bunk beds are designed with built-in storage solutions, such as drawers, shelves, or cabinets.
This storage can be useful in shelters to store the personal belongings of residents, and even supplies whenever the bunks are not in use. It is a good way of maximizing space in the homeless shelter facility.
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Stackable Bunk Beds
Stackable bunk beds are designed to be easily disassembled and stored when not in use. Stackable bunk beds are easy to assemble, as they provide full-length guardrails and a ladder that attaches to the frame.
Stackable bunk beds might be what some very busy homeless shelters need, especially since the sleeping area may need to be rearranged and used for other purposes during the day.
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Modular Bunk Beds
A modular bunk bed allows you to choose the exact components you need to re-configure the bed effortlessly from a single bed to a low loft bed, or a high loft bed, or into a bunk bed and back into single beds.
Generally, modular bunk beds are constructed to safety standards, and they can be stackable, separable, or customizable to different room layouts in your homeless shelter.
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Heavy-Duty Bunk Beds
If you operate a homeless shelter that experiences high occupancy and frequent turnover all year round, then your best option when it comes to bunk beds is heavy-duty bunk beds.
By heavy duty, we mean both high-weight capacity as well as robust frame and construction. For commercial bunk beds, higher weight capacity is a must since you never know who is going to use it.
Also, you need a sturdy bunk bed frame so it can last you a very long time. Generally, heavy-duty bunk beds are built to withstand constant use and wear.