Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

The United States’ economy is constantly in flux; the unemployment rate is high and there is stiff competition for jobs. Home foreclosures have steadily increased and many more Americans have been required to deal with housing issues more seriously than in the past. The number of Americans that have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness is increasing daily and the design of homeless shelter environments is a growing issue of social justice. Homelessness is explored in this context as being “without a permanent home” and the psychological need for “home” is discussed in relation to the physiological need for shelter. Issues of homelessness that are addressed by this research into the interior design of homeless shelters includes the reduction of criminal activity, the ability for environmental factors to impact the homeless in psychological and social aspects, benefits of utilizing sustainability, as well as increased efficiency when conducting intake and assessments. Criminal activity among the homeless is a serious issue as many of this population lack traditional protections of permanent shelter and require other means of personal protection. The interior environment has a responsibility to the homeless in the U.S. to provide a safe and secure environment. In order to explain the ability of the shelter’s interior space to reduce or prevent criminal activity, research methods utilized include a comprehensive literature review, individual interviews with design project members, and observational analyses of two contrasting homeless environments along with a case study of a transformational homeless shelter.