Shelter for All: Homelessness in New York City

In 2018-19, the Urban Design Forum’s Forefront Fellows investigated the homelessness crisis in New York City. Shelter for All was the Forum’s response to the increasing homeless population in New York City and the City’s renewed efforts to revamp its approach.

In the summer of 2018, our Fellows partnered with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the American Institute of Architects – New York (AIA-NY) to visit shelters, interview stakeholders, and draft design recommendations to improve existing shelters across New York City. In the fall and winter, equipped with the knowledge from their work with DHS, our Fellows developed independent projects exploring the root causes of homelessness and housing precarity in New York City.

This compilation presents the original design and policy proposals developed by the Fellows and accompanying interviews with subject-matter experts.

Our aim in presenting these ideas is to ignite a debate about how to build a more just and equitable city for people experiencing homelessness and housing precarity. We hope you will share your ideas with us.

Preface ↓

A Note from the Fellows
Nova Lucero and Emma Silverblatt

Introduction ↓

Introduction
Daniel McPhee and George Piazza

Systemic Radical Change ↓

Systemic Radical Change
Alp Bozkurt, Johane Clermont, April De Simone, Nova Lucero and Emma Silverblatt

An Interview with Marcus Moore and Rob Robinson
Alp Bozkurt, April De Simone, Nova Lucero and Emma Silverblatt

An Interview with Graham Ciraulo
Alp Bozkurt, April De Simone, Nova Lucero and Emma Silverblatt

Prevention ↓

Breaking Free: Preventing the Prison-to-Shelter Pipeline
Ishita Gaur, Melissa Minnich and Heli Pinillos

An Interview with Judy Whiting
Melissa Minnich

An Interview with Rita Zimmer
Heli Pinillos

An Interview with Jonathan Marvel
Ishita Gaur

Public Realm ↓

Homelessness in the Public Realm
Margaret Jankowsky, Stella Kim and Madison Loew

An Interview with Chris Burbank
Madison Loew

An Interview with Gia Biagi
Margaret Jankowsky

An Interview with Paul Lotter
Stella Kim

Public Bathrooms ↓

The Need for Public Bathrooms in New York City
Julie Chou, Kevin A. Gurley and Boyeong Hong

Supportive Housing ↓

Supportive Housing in New York City
Anand Amin, Jenneh Kaikai, Andrew McIntyre, Catherine Nguyen, and Rebecca Sauer

An Interview with Tommy Newman
Anand Amin, Catherine Nguyen and Rebecca Sauer

An Interview with Jessica Katz
Anand Amin and Rebecca Sauer

Call to Action ↓

Call to Action: What’s Next?
George Piazza

Editor ↓

George Piazza

Editorial Support ↓

Daniel McPhee, Katherine Sacco and An Trinh

Design Concept ↓

Partner & Partners