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News Wire / technology

San Francisco Company Plans Expansion of Sleeping Pods

KQED FM San Francisco 60d60d Impact 7

Some tech workers in San Francisco are choosing to live in communal housing, described as 'pod life' with bunk beds. Critics have labeled these pods as dystopian or illegal, while proponents view them as an efficient housing solution. Housing advocate Fernando Marti notes this is part of the city's history of group living, including residential hotels, hippie communes, and hacker houses. Housing experts state that pods do not assist seniors and families with children who are most affected by the Bay Area's affordability crisis. Professor Carolina Reed of UC Berkeley suggests that permanent housing solutions are necessary to foster a vibrant city with diverse residents. A company plans to open another building on Market Street in San Francisco to house hundreds more sleeping pods. The new site will charge $500 more per month for the same size bunk beds.

Some tech workers in San Francisco are choosing to live in communal housing, described as 'pod life' with bunk beds. Critics have labeled these pods as dystopian or illegal, while proponents view them as an efficient housing solution. Housing advocate Fernando Marti notes this is part of the city's history of group living, including residential hotels, hippie communes, and hacker houses. Housing experts state that pods do not assist seniors and families with children who are most affected by the Bay Area's affordability crisis. Professor Carolina Reed of UC Berkeley suggests that permanent housing solutions are necessary to foster a vibrant city with diverse residents. A company plans to open another building on Market Street in San Francisco to house hundreds more sleeping pods. The new site will charge $500 more per month for the same size bunk beds. Current residents find the trade-offs acceptable for the savings, at least for now. KQED's Sydney Johnson documented her experience living in such conditions at Brownstone Shared Housing. The typical person stays about six months, though some have resided there for years. Fernando Marti, a housing advocate and university instructor, has been involved with this model. Sydney Johnson reported for KQED News.

Topics

housing technology industry cost of living

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Sources · 7 independent

KQED FM

“The AI boom is in full swing in San Francisco, and as startups seek the promise of big returns, some tech workers are living lean, like sleeping in pods.”

KQED FM

“Johnson tells us. The people living the pod life give up space.”

KQED FM

“The price tag for sleeping in a twin size bunk bed in a room with 30 other adults, $700 per month, far less than the average rent in San Francisco, which goes for $3,600 a month for one better”

KQED FM

“Ula works in tech and moved here from Toronto. He was traveling.”

KQED FM

“in San Francisco, which goes for $3,600 a month for one better”

KQED FM

“Critics have described them as everything from dystopian to potentially illegal, while proponents have seen the pods as an efficient housing option.”

KQED FM

“San Francisco has been around for over a decade and other companies have tried similar models. Critics have described them as everything from dystopian to potentially illegal, while proponents have seen the pods as an efficient housing option. Fernando Marti is a housing advocate who's taught at the University of San Francisco.”

KQED FM

“Housing experts say the pods don't help the people bearing the brunt of the affordability crisis in the Bay Area. If we are trying to build a vibrant city where we have households from all walks of life able to live there and work there, we would need to be coming up with permanent housing solution.”

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