Architects’ challenge: build new homes for the
homeless
During the Olympics red tents were set up to house the homeless. A new design competition intends to provide them something better.
by Ashley Owens
City officials, business people and the Vancouver Police Department all agree that shelters help curb crime.
Proposals are being submitted to build fast, cheap and adaptable housing in the Downtown East Side.
Quick Homes Super Challenge is hosted by Architecture For Humanity at the InterUrban Gallery in the heart of the Downtown East Side. The event lecture took place on April 15 and presentations are set to take place Saturday.
“People thought that they would look bad, but once they saw my designs, they were worried they might look too nice,” said Michael Geller, one of the speakers at the lecture.
The event explores the feasibility of reusing shipping containers for housing, and whether or not they would be suitable to help address the homeless, said Geller.
The housing would cost one-eighth the cost of permanent housing, according to Geller.
The VPD said that the housing would be beneficial to residents of the Downtown East Side.
“We do know from experience that when people have a place to call home,
they are less likely to be offending or causing street disorder,” Const. Jana McGuinness said in an email. “A
stable environment allows people to focus on other issues in their lives
and move forward with more success.”
Councillor Kerry Jang, who also spoke at the lecture, agrees.
“Temporary shelters and housing make crime rates drop right down,” he said.
The models that will be presented are on display at the InterUrban Gallery.
Angel Gaeta is helping to host the event and she is pushing for housing in the area.
“Friends of mine have lived on the streets of East Hastings, and as soon as they got their own place it helped get their lives on track,” she said.
Gaeta has had personal experience with the benefits of housing, and she said that the ‘superchallenge’ event contains some great ideas.
Geller compared the potential housing system to the way that schools use portable classrooms.
“I developed the concept originally as a student thesis 40 years ago,” he said.
According to him, the proposed housing could be moved around three or four times, and possibly set up permanently in the end.
Following presentations Saturday, there will be a live jury session in which the models will be evaluated. The city of Vancouver and interested NGOs will be presented with the final design package.