Flexible Housing Types | Understand Homelessness

GO BACK

While we traditionally think of housing as fixed and stable, designers have been experimenting with new models that could provide more flexibility, which are highlyapplicable to solving the homelessness crisis. Some of these homes are expandable to adapt to larger or smaller families and lot sizes, while others are designed to be customizable to reflect the values of whoever lives within. Others are designed to be modular and stackable, or double as a vendor cart to provide a means for income as well. Still others are designed to attach to existing buildings, or are retrofitted from buses and storage units. This approach emphasizing flexibility could help to accommodate those experiencing homelessness in new ways that are exciting alternatives to traditional housing types.

EXAMPLES

DESIGN

PROGRAM

POLICY

Mobile Shelter Doubles as Vendor Cart Washington State

Expandable Home is a Low-Cost Solution to Social Housing Shortage Mexico

Uhu Micro-Units Provide Affordable Urban Housing Boston, MA

paraSITE Provides Inflatable, Warm Housing Boston, MA

Customizable Chilean “Half-Houses” Consticucion, Chile

While we traditionally think of housing as fixed and stable, designers have been experimenting with new models that could provide more flexibility, which are highlyapplicable to solving the homelessness crisis. Some of these homes are expandable to adapt to larger or smaller families and lot sizes, while others are designed to be customizable to reflect the values of whoever lives within. Others are designed to be modular and stackable, or double as a vendor cart to provide a means for income as well. Still others are designed to attach to existing buildings, or are retrofitted from buses and storage units. This approach emphasizing flexibility could help to accommodate the homeless in new ways that are exciting alternatives to traditional housing types.