Reimagining an American City Where People Without a House Can Subsist

Abstract

Houselessness is a prevalent issue in America’s major cities. In large cities such as Washington, D.C., it is common to see people living on the streets and in public spaces. The underlying causes of houselessness are multifaceted, but it is evident that the city does not provide appropriate resources for these individuals to exist humanely. This study aims to comprehend the primary needs of a houseless person and determine how urban design solutions might provide resources to address those needs. For the investigation, SW Washington, D.C.’s waterfront neighborhood was chosen. In its urban fabric, numerous unused or underutilized spaces have been observed. These spaces have the potential to be transformed into urban places that could make the city more supportive to the population without houses. A number of such resources have been identified. Several survey methods, such as non-participatory observation, and traffic and pedestrian counts, were utilized to obtain primary data for the research. In addition, diverse data sources, such as GIS data, journals, books, podcasts, television interviews, and website content, were consulted to obtain secondary data. Collected data was studied and synthesized to develop urban design ideas that can aid unsheltered individuals with their daily needs and make the city more hospitable. This research is not intended to solve the issue of homelessness in American cities; rather, it aims to highlight the needs of those impacted and propose possible intervention strategies in conjunction with other social services and design solutions (i.e., traditional shelters, traditional housing). The study also provides a brief overview of the causes of houselessness in the United States, and an investigation into the lives of people living unsheltered. The outcome will give policymakers an understanding of how a city can facilitate its unfortunate residents.