What are your design goals and objectives given the site and circumstances?

Written By Rosanna Yerke

Note: This framework was created by Shopworks Architecture, Group 14 Engineering, & University of Denver Center for Housing and Homelessness Research, 2020.

Using the Trauma-informed Design Framework developed by Shopworks Architecture, Group 14 Engineering, & University of Denver Center for Housing and Homelessness Research, I’ve outlined the various design interventions at Everyone Village to address the need for choice, comfort, and community.

I have also outlined the design goals and objectives for transitional housing. This is an important context for the design interventions and come with their own design goals and objectives.

Trauma-Informed Design

Comfort, Community, Choice (Design strategies that take into consideration the holistic impact on residents)

  • Comfort

    • On-site Food Production

    • Pet-Friendly

    • Stormwater Management

    • Temperature Control, protected from the elements

      • Talk about Jeanette coming out of homelessness and the pallet shelter was great but…not enough to meet all needs

  • Community

    • Community Gathering Spaces

    • Education & Employment Opportunities

    • Income Generation

    • Habitat for Animals

  • Choice

    • Modular & Flexible Spaces

    • Customization & Personalization Opportunities

    • Regular Feedback

  • Ensure that infrastructure/services/experiences on site serve the needs of people who have experienced trauma (either on the street or other ACEs)

    • Limit the chances of falling into a trauma state

      • Avoiding triggering spaces

      • Getting rid of spaces/experiences that breed conflict, fear, and isolation

    • Create opportunities for healing and stability

      • Spaces/Experiences that generate feelings of joy, connection, empowerment, peace of mind, hope, and safety

Transitional Housing

Low-cost (“Cost-Effective” is that better? Limited resources, high needs), Adaptability (Diversity of residents, Diversity of needs & desires, Diversity of lived experiences/trauma), Multifunctional

    • Find low-cost alternatives to help the village grow

      • Upcycling/Found Materials, Second hand & reused materials

      • Donations, Utilizing donations

      • Partnerships

    • Ensure that infrastructure/services/experiences on site serve the needs of people coming out of houselessness

      • Portability (5-year lease on private land, site is growing, changing constantly)

      • Flexibility

      • Personalization

      • Modular

      • Temporary/Impermanent

    • With the limited space/resources, optimize efforts/energy/connections to serve as many needs as possible

      • Raised bed for growing food, temperature control, beautification, etc.

      • Solar panels for the pallets shelters, energy, temperature control, long-term resilience

      • Painted asphalt for personalization/placemaking, temperature control, etc.

Rosanna Yerke
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How can trauma-informed design be applied in landscape architecture? And in the context of transitional housing?