Trauma-Informed Design
Project summary
More than half a million people in the US experience homelessness. Permanent supportive housing (PSH) is a type of housing designed to house and support formerly unhoused or low-income individuals. While prior work has found moderate evidence to support PSH's effectiveness in increasing housing stability, few studies have considered the impact of PSH building design on residents’ well-being.
We focus on assessing the impact of built features, particularly features that promote greater connection to nature, on the stress and sense of belonging of PSH residents. We partnered with a non-profit organization to collect data at two buildings located in San Francisco, California, the state with the highest rate of homelessness. In each building, we completed semi-structured interviews with thirteen to fifteen residents who answered questions about their well-being and the building in which they reside, and conducted thematic and content analyses on the interview data.
Driving question
What is the role of building design, particularly biophilic features, on the sense of belonging and stress of residents of permanent supportive housing?
Major findings
Among built features, participants mentioned building upkeep and noise as most consequential for their well-being
Biophilic features improved self-reported well-being by providing multi-sensory stimuli and increasing perceived control
Interpersonal relationships and perceived safety were the most mentioned themes for well-being
Publications
Nature, buildings, and humans: Residents’ perceptions of well-being in permanent supportive housing
Bianchi, E., Correa M.C. , Eichstaedt, J.C., Billington, S.L. (2024), Environment and Behavior, [Link]
Project team
Eva Bianchi, PhD student, CEE
Maria Correa, Undergraduate researcher, CEE
Prof. Sarah Billington, CEE
Prof. Johannes Eichstaedt, Psychology and HAI