Some additional thoughts:
1. As time goes on and service needs change, the shortcomings (and also the outstanding features) of any design become more pronounced. This is why I am particularly interested in the printable design catalog you are developing. It would be great to be able to access such a catalog periodically over the years to look for easier-to-implement solutions for such things as: needing space saving furnishings for a computer lab, creating mobile, lockable storage units for volunteer projects, creating additional storage spaces so that women using the agency on a short-term basis can safely store belongings… these are few things that come to mind.

2. The expansion of permanent, supportive housing has been a wonderful development in ending homelessness. Projects vary from the extremely utilitarian and somewhat depressing to flashy design-conscious buildings that momentarily draw critical acclaim. For me, the holy grail is that unique design that can be space and cost efficient to operate while still recognizing that it is more important that the (future) residents be able to customize their (small) apartment to their tastes and needs (make it their home). Flashy projects can be useful for drawing attention to the critical need for housing, in my experience, the trade-off is sometimes ill-conceived living spaces for those the project was meant to benefit.

I could go on… and on! This topic is of great interest to me. However, I will stop now and simply revisit your website in the months to come to see what has been developed.

This is nothing new. For diligent architects, it has always been standard practice that any ‘research’ or programming is done is conjunction with other professionals, residents, future users, academic experts, etc. They have more expertise in a given field or local context than architects will ever be able to master. There is already a wealth of literature, case studies, and most importantly, experiences of actual users to draw upon. We cannot do better by ourselves, partially because the solutions to a ‘wicked problem’ like homelessness go beyond a well designed clinic or rec room. That is only a component of a larger social issue.

Why mention this, what should seem so obvious? Sometimes, within a few architecture schools and firms there is a notion that individuals can save us from the complicated social problems facing us. An informed architect can solve it all, right? We are saviors, yes? Not so. Not by ourselves. Let us remember to build partnerships.

Jack

This is a great way to approach design problems, especially when adapting spaces to new programs, as is the case with many shelters (ie church basements).

Emily Sprague is currently leading an Architecture for Humanity NY project for CAMBA and the Park Slope Women’s Shelter. Through research, she has identified that one of the shelter’s main issues is client recidivism. The redesign will address this issue by creating transitional living units to educate residents and prepare them for increased privacy / responsibility.

http://afhny.org/content/projects/park_slope_womens_shelter

Similarly, Debbie Buelow, Shelby Doyle, Pollyanna Rhee lead a project that finished construction last year for Broadway Community Inc that met their needs of providing private spaces for medical exam rooms and increasing resident privacy.

http://afhny.org/content/projects/bci_shelter

i should note that i am a volunteer of AFHny, and therefore biased. That said, I think that these are both terrific projects and examples of the type of design you are encouraging.

Keep up the great work, and consider visiting us in Riverside!

The church (basement), I suppose, is one private, non-profit interest. But have you considered bringing private doctors’ offices (and even better, the doctor) into the mix, somehow building a spatially-displaced/disjoint “space” consisting of multiple smaller spaces, that may be located throughout the city? …maybe finding a space that is central to other private doctors’ offices, and using those to augment the central, public space?

In a sense, I’m asking if one can bring “private” (in both senses of the word) spaces/interests into the mix to fulfill your design goals? And if so, what would it look like and how would it work?

Also, how much have you engaged the homeless in this work? I know that’s difficult, but what work have you done to understand their perspectives, needs, reasons for being chronically homeless, etc.? I’ve read that many of the homeless fear for the safety of their stuff when they’re not around–how does this design solution address that, if at all?