RAIC Foundation News

HOUSING THE HOMELESS: A CASE FOR COMPASSIONATE DESIGN 

The winners of the 2020 RAIC Foundation Bursary were Kellie Chin and Naomi Shewchuk, both Intern Architects working in Toronto. Their concern for the impact of COVID-19 on the homeless residents in Toronto’s shelters, prompted this re-examination of the shelter system. 

“The current strategy towards housing people who are experiencing homelessness in Ontario involves providing temporary accommodation in shelters. COVID‐19 has exposed shortcomings with the shelter approach. The City of Toronto has been rapidly shifting its approach during the pandemic to increasing provision and investment, in addition to housing people in hotel rooms and apartments. We are interested in delivering research that offers a considered approach, is data‐driven and centres the shelter clients’ experience. It is important that we conduct this research now, while the City of Toronto contemplates new public housing measures at an accelerated rate as an extension of the Housing Now Program. Interest in a New Deal‐style stimulus plan funded by the federal government spurs hope that the financial means for building such housing will be available in the near future. This project represents the first step in a phased approach leading to continued research and wider dissemination of the results. Beyond this, we hope to develop partnerships with relevant parties to better influence public health strategies through enhanced understanding of architectural design and spatial policies in housing supports.”

Recently published in Spacing Toronto, you can read the results of their project here: 
http://spacing.ca/toronto/2020/10/02/a-case-for-compassionate-design-in-housing-standards-in-toronto-shelters/

A note on the winners:

Kellie Chin (Project Co-Lead)

Kellie is an Intern Architect at WORKSHOP with an interest in promoting social responsibility and invigorating local communities. She has completed various buildings in Toronto as well as projects with Toronto’s Shelter, Support & Housing Administration working on the initiative to deliver 1000 new shelter beds in the city.