Supportive housing design: Resident health and wellness needs
| dc.contributor.author | Lodhi, Maariyah | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Cunningham, Barton | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-12-18T18:53:38Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-12-18T18:53:38Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.degree.department | School of Public Administration | |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Public Administration MPA | |
| dc.description.abstract | The built environment and design of housing affects the mental health and wellness of those who have previously been homeless and reside in supporting housing complexes. When overlooked, a poorly designed facility can have negative implications on an individual’s mental health and wellness. This capstone research project underlines the importance of understanding the needs of supportive housing residents living at Uplands Walk, a supportive housing site in Nanaimo, British Columbia, operated by Pacifica Housing Advisory Association (Pacifica Housing). Pacifica Housing is a non-profit housing organization operating in Victoria and Nanaimo, British Columbia. The organization provides supportive housing for individuals and families on Vancouver Island. Uplands Walk is a purpose-built supportive housing site located in North Nanaimo. The complex provides stable, permanent housing to 34 previously homeless individuals. Although there has been a rapid increase in supportive housing facilities in response to the housing crisis and the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, little research exists on the significance of built environments and the design of supportive housing. Methods include 10 interviews and photographs of the complex captured through autophotography to find data highlighting successes, improvements and recommendations to support residents' mental health and wellness needs. Participants express their appreciation for the suitability of the housing space along with the process of upgrading and improving the design. The most significant themes were suitability and ongoing design stemming from adaptive design concepts based on Cherns’ Sociotechnical Design Theory (1976). Opportunities for social interactions, opportunities for engagement and safety autonomy were also major themes highlighted from engagement design concepts based on Supportive Design Theory by Roger Ulrich (1991). The findings recommend the need for flexible and adaptable design in the building complex to allow for the changing needs of residents to be met. Recommendations include renovated communal areas, improved amenities, lighting solutions and ideas for resident socialization. Additionally, participants suggested safety measures such as security. Architects, interior designers and housing organizations can better understand resident feedback and incorporate flexible design to existing and future complexes. Overall, understanding the varying and constantly changing needs of residents allows for more inclusive solutions, thus leading to higher satisfaction rates and improved wellness | |
| dc.description.scholarlevel | Graduate | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/20858 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.rights | Available to the World Wide Web | |
| dc.subject | housing | |
| dc.subject | supportive housing | |
| dc.subject | health | |
| dc.subject | wellness | |
| dc.subject | design | |
| dc.subject | social housing | |
| dc.subject | autophotography | |
| dc.subject | built environment | |
| dc.subject | mental health | |
| dc.subject | homelessness | |
| dc.title | Supportive housing design: Resident health and wellness needs | |
| dc.type | project |