[2] These shelters often cater to specific populations, such as women and children fleeing domestic violence, individuals recovering from addiction, or families working to regain financial stability.
Initially, it was used to describe temporary housing solutions provided after major crises, such as wars or natural disasters, where displaced populations needed stable environments before transitioning to permanent homes.
[5] Unlike extended-stay refugee camps, which are often established to address long-term displacement due to ongoing conflict or lack of resettlement options, transitional shelters are designed with a defined timeline and the goal of facilitating a quicker integration into permanent housing.
In the 1980s, as homelessness rose in the U.S. due to economic recession, cuts to social services, and deinstitutionalization of mental health care, transitional shelters became a prominent component of federal housing strategies.
[6] The passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in 1987 formalized the concept, funding programs that combined temporary housing with supportive services to help individuals and families rebuild their lives.