When a former resident of the Path Home Family Village in Portland, Oregon reached out to ask if he could get married at the shelter, it was a testament to the success of the shelter’s redesign. Brandi Tuck, the executive director, recognized that the shelter had truly made a positive impact on families experiencing homelessness.
Tuck expressed, “Homelessness is an incredibly challenging and dehumanizing experience for families. For a family to have such a positive and dignified experience at our shelter and want to return is a perfect example of the impact and beauty of this place.”
Contrary to common perceptions of homeless shelters as cramped, unsanitary, and potentially dangerous, Family Village offers a different experience. The shelter boasts natural bamboo wood floors and walls painted in calming hues inspired by the ocean. The only contrasting color is a soft terracotta reminiscent of a sunset. The shelter provides spacious, multipurpose rooms that clients can utilize as they wish, and glass doors offer individuals the autonomy to decide whether they want to enter a particular space. The rounded walls and the presence of a garden filled with vegetables and flowers contribute to a calming and welcoming atmosphere.
Family Village, opened in 2019, replaced three other shelters, including a retrofitted warehouse and two church basements. Tuck recalls, “In these previous spaces, chaos was constant. Families who come here express that they feel cared for and valued.”
Family Village represents a new wave of homeless shelters in the US that prioritize trauma-informed design. It is also the only overnight shelter of its kind in Oregon. This innovative approach acknowledges that individuals who have experienced trauma require specialized support.
Chronic stress can physically alter the brain, affecting memory, coping mechanisms, and emotional regulation. Recognizing the significant role of the physical environment in shaping lives, architects are beginning to reimagine how they design spaces such as homeless shelters, prisons, and foster care centers.
Kay Sargent, the director of the Workplace Group at architecture firm HOK, emphasizes the impact of design on human wellbeing, stating, “An increase in research has revealed how design affects us, and designers now understand how to make a positive difference.”
The Mental Health Center of Denver’s Sanderson Apartments, which opened in 2017, serves as an early example of trauma-informed design. Its layout promotes openness and calmness, with wide hallways, ample windows, and sage and lavender-colored walls. There are personal lockers and privacy walls between sleeping areas.
Interest in trauma-informed design for shelters has grown alongside public discussions on mental health and the escalating rates of homelessness. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of chronically homeless individuals in the US increased by 16% between 2020 and 2022.
Despite the prevalence of trauma among individuals experiencing homelessness, homeless services historically failed to address or acknowledge its impact. Trauma-informed design aims to help individuals shift from survival mode to a more relaxed state. By reducing fear and anxiety, individuals can focus on important tasks like job applications and caring for their children. Shelters can serve as short-term stepping stones towards stability.
Elements such as acoustics, color schemes, and furniture arrangement play a vital role in supporting a healing mental state. Design choices that foster a sense of community, autonomy, and security have proven beneficial. These discoveries arise from a combination of research and the experiences of shelter residents.
Restoration House in Atlanta, operated by the Atlanta Mission, serves as an example of the positive impact of design on healing. Jennifer Hutchinson, the campus director, emphasizes how natural light, strategic furniture placement, and cozy sleeping spaces contribute to a sense of safety and security.
Hutchinson believes that design plays a crucial role in the healing process but acknowledges the lack of funding available for redesigning other Atlanta Mission facilities.
While trauma-informed design has not yet become the industry norm, a 2020 report by the University of Denver’s Center for Housing and Homelessness Research advocates for formal best-practice guidelines. Design education must also incorporate a deeper understanding of mental health and trauma.
In order to facilitate effective design, it is critical to involve individuals who have experienced homelessness or housing instability in the design process. Building relationships and truly understanding the needs of these individuals requires time and effort from designers, despite the associated costs.
The Path Home Family Village in Oregon serves as a testament to the power of collaboration. Designers inspired by Jill Pable’s Design Resources for Homelessness offered 800 hours of pro bono work, estimated to be worth around $250,000. This generous contribution allowed the shelter to raise the necessary funds and purchase a one-acre plot of land with an existing church, the future site of Family Village.
In the last year alone, Family Village has provided shelter to 524 families, with an average stay of 85 days. Families express feelings of hope for the future after their time spent at the shelter.
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