MASTER'S THESIS PROJECT

COMBAT HOMELESSNESS

After seeing it firsthand and researching the statistics, it became apparent that the homeless population in Miami-Dade demands attention. We are proposing a solution to heightened the sense of community through provisions of a housing and community center. This literature review will provide a more in-depth understanding of the needs of homeless individuals, successful measures for addressing those needs by community centers, and an analysis of how this information can affect interior design.  A better awareness of the needs of the general homeless population, and how those needs change when looking at the population through the lens of LGBTQ homeless youth, will allow for a more meaningful and impactful design. We aim to develop design guidelines for an environment that would support the rehabilitation of homeless individuals back into society through professional development and counseling. It is important for interior designers to determine the demographic needs of this population in order to design an environment that affords a sense of self, place, and community.