This homeless shelter is designed for a single person. A door on the front of the unit swings up to provide entry into a contoured seat/bed. The door can be locked from the inside. A handle near the mast controls the seasonal mode of operation.

This shelter functions by taking advantage of the numerous underground steam pipe issues that arise around the city. Typically, temporary chimneys are placed into a manhole to divert steam above pedestrians' heads and prevent burns. This shelter is designed to replace these chimneys.

After the shelter is deployed, steam passes through an adjustable nozzle at the base of the mast. This functions as the first stage of a venturi injector. In the summer, it is narrow, creating a low pressure zone above, drawing in air from the inlet above. In the winter, the nozzle is wide to create a high pressure zone, forcing hot air through the outlets above.

There are two outlets above. The first directs air through a diverter, which in the summer allows cool air to be drawn across the person resting inside, cooling him or her. In the winter, the diverter is flipped to pass hot steam across a chamber above the occupant. This prevents harmful chemicals or odors which may be present in the steam from harming the occupant, while still keeping him or her warm through indirect heat.

The second outlet is at the top, through a small turbine, which generates a small amount of electricity. The flow is mediated by the second stage of the venturi injector, which can adjust to control the relative pressure of the incoming steam and hence heating/cooling of the shelter.

Finally, the shelter can be folded and compacted against the mast via a pulley and a set of two wheels lowered to allow it to be moved. It only takes one person to deploy or pack up.