NBC NEWS - The nation's first "green" homeless shelter is about to open in East Oakland, California.

The 125-bed "Crossroads" shelter is powered by 186 solar panels and uses a water-based hydronic heating system.

The site features fluorescent lighting, ceiling fans and special paint that does not emit toxins.

But the green features are not the only thing that makes the shelter stand out.

It contains a whole floor just for families.

Each family will have its own living quarters, complete with a private bathroom and even bathtubs for the little ones.

The shelter also has a special respite wing so people discharged from a hospital will have a quiet area in which to recover.

Crossroads will replace the East Oakland Emergency Project's current shelter, which has been housing the homeless for 17 years.