Influence of community engagement on the social and architectural growth and development of low-income housing communities

Abstract

Q: How can community engagement influence the growth and development of low-income neighborhoods socially and architecturally? Architecture can be the driving factor for redesigning low-income housing communities suffering from poor management, funding, and constructability. This diploma project integrates community engagement with sustainability, through single-family shipping container home design, solar technology, biodiverse community gardening, and much more. This low-income, single-family housing community is located at 960 Agard Ave, Benton Harbor, MI. The design principles that are embedded in this project focus on constructability through community engagement by inviting local tradesmen and women to teach residents how to correctly repair and upkeep their new home. Residents will have access to tool loaning programs, workshops, career training, financial advising and daycare services through the community center within this project. “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” - Coretta Scott King