Designers Challenged to Get Creative About Housing HomelessIn April of 2010, readers were encouraged to take part in Architecture ForHumanity’s ‘s<strong>up</strong>erchallenge’ to find quick, affordable and green housingsolutions for <strong>the</strong> city’s growing homeless population.By Monte PaulsenArticle first published on April 14, 2010 by <strong>The</strong><strong>Tyee</strong>.ca.“I think we should start <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> assumption thatwhat homeless people need is a home, and a meal,and to be treated with dignity and respect.”That’s part of <strong>the</strong> advice that housing manager JaniceAbbott will share with architects, designers and plannersat tonight’s kickoff of <strong>the</strong> Quick Homes S<strong>up</strong>erchallenge,organized by Architecture For Humanity/Vancouver.Abbott, whose firm manages about 20 residentialhotels in <strong>the</strong> Downtown Eastside, will be amongmore than a dozen experts offering advice to volunteerteams exploring how modular housing might beadapted to provide affordable green housing for Vancouver’sgrowing homeless population. <strong>The</strong> designcharette will consider <strong>the</strong> potential for housing crafted<strong>from</strong> reused shipping containers, such <strong>the</strong> projectsdescribed in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Tyee</strong> series, Green Homes, Out of<strong>The</strong> Box.“Architecture For Humanity believes that adequateshelter is a basic human right, and that housing <strong>the</strong>least privileged provides an opportunity to demonstrateboth creativity and social responsibility,” saidLinus Lam, who directs <strong>the</strong> international non-profitorganization’s Vancouver chapter.<strong>The</strong> event begins tonight with a series of 10-minutepresentations, and continues on Saturday with <strong>the</strong>design challenge.Homeless need respect and securityABOVE: Shipping containers, used in this MC Quarters projectproposal, are one form of modular housing that could providequick and affordable shelter for people living on <strong>the</strong> streets.“I think one of <strong>the</strong> big flaws in <strong>the</strong> system right nowis that a lot of folks start <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> assumption thatpeople who are homeless are profoundly mentally ill,and profoundly addicted,” explained Abbott, <strong>the</strong> CEOof Atira Property Management.“I’m not saying that those two things aren’t true, butI don’t think that’s where you start <strong>from</strong>. You start<strong>from</strong> assuming that people’s situations and <strong>the</strong>ir mentalhealth is directly related to <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong>y arehomeless,” she continued.“You get <strong>the</strong>m into a home. You get <strong>the</strong>m a safe homethat’s <strong>the</strong>ir own, where <strong>the</strong>y are treated with respectby <strong>the</strong> staff -- and hopefully by <strong>the</strong>ir neighbours --where <strong>the</strong>y feel like <strong>the</strong>y are part of a community,”10
Abbott said.“Once those things are in place, <strong>the</strong>n you’ll knowwhat <strong>the</strong> extent of <strong>the</strong>ir mental illness is, or <strong>the</strong>ir addition.”Abbott, who also directs <strong>the</strong> Atira Women’s ResourceSociety also said that appropriate security is requiredin order for a respectful community to thrive.THE QUICK HOMES SUPERCHALLENGEBoth events will take place at <strong>the</strong> InterUrban Galleryat 1 East Hastings St., in <strong>the</strong> heart of <strong>the</strong> DowntownEastside. <strong>The</strong> Thursday night lectures start at 7 p.m.Admission is free, but due to space concerns <strong>the</strong> publicis asked to RSVP.“When you move someone in off <strong>the</strong> street in <strong>the</strong>Downtown Eastside, you definitely need staff in placeto keep <strong>the</strong> predators out,” Abbott said.“<strong>The</strong>re are a lot of predators down here. <strong>The</strong>re aredrug dealers. <strong>The</strong>re are pimps. <strong>The</strong>re are people whoare not vulnerable making profit off people who arevulnerable,” she said.“<strong>The</strong>se people will come in and take over peoples’rooms in order to conduct <strong>the</strong>ir business. You needstaff to make sure those folks don’t come in and takeover <strong>the</strong> facility.”Inspiration soughtO<strong>the</strong>r speakers on tonight’s roster include VancouverCity Councillor Kerry Jang, Street to Home presidentBarbara Grantham, container home pioneer KeithDewey, as well as architects including Michael Geller,Gregory Henriquez and Oliver Lang.<strong>The</strong> Quick Homes S<strong>up</strong>erchallenge has been organizedby <strong>the</strong> Architecture For Humanity/Vancouver in associationwith <strong>the</strong> Design Foundation of British Columbia,and has been co-sponsored by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Tyee</strong> SolutionsSociety.“I think <strong>the</strong> homelessness issue is not something wecan simply throw money at even if we have it. It isa complex issue and requires constant effort <strong>from</strong>professionals, as well as periodic bursts of inspiration<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> community,” said organizer Linus Lam.11