A person experiencing homelessness lacks shelter in its most basic form, but solving homelessness takes much more than buildings, and our contemporary moment reveals few problems that design, on its own, can resolve. This publication provides an edited transcript of the We Need to Talk About Homelessness symposium held on February 11, 2022, which brought together individuals representing policy, academia, and on-the-ground organizations and activism for a conversation about how to work toward housing our whole communities.
The discussions documented by this book provide insight into the urgent and ongoing work to address homelessness while also furthering our understanding of this complex and nuanced matter. Readers will learn about practical tools and strategies that we can use now, in our current academic culture and practices, to begin to shift our building climate for the better of our people.
This symposium and book were made possible by the Actions that Promote Community Transformation (ACT) program of The University of Texas at Austin Vice Provost for Diversity Office within the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and the Meyer Foundation Centennial Lectureship.
The “We Need to Talk About…” series aims to put students in conversation with professional and community leaders to discuss a range of pressing issues in today’s world, better equipping students to use their voices to guide the future of their fields.
ISBN: 978-0-934951-42-5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction, by Leora Visotzky and Awais Azhar
Welcome
Background
The Role of Architects, Planners, and Designers
Racialization, Criminalization, and Public Safety
Supporting the Demand for Unconditional and Humane Permanent Housing
Closing Discussion and Remarks
AUTHORS
Awais Azhar
Rick Archer
João Paulo Connolly
Dianna Grey
Sarah Satterlee
Joe N. Savage, Jr.
Leora Visotzky
EDITOR
Bridget Gayle Ground
ASSISTANT EDITORS
Emma Margulies
Emilio Sanchez
Julia Szeto
