PREMISE
Education plays a vital role in shaping the future of the young. The children of today are gearing up to become the adult citizens of tomorrow. Citizens, who are going to be responsible for the future of their countries, parallel to the growth through education. School life takes up a huge chunk in a child’s life.
But what if school wasn’t the only thing students needed to be worried about? What if shelter and food was no longer the responsibility of the parent?

Some lost stable homes when the parent was overcomed by opioid addiction, some homes were washed away by hurricanes. Others are just crumbling under the economic crisis. More than a million U.S students meet the federal definition of homeless (NCHE). Nearly, 1.5 million public school students stated that they were homeless at some point during the academic year of 2017-18. The highest number recorded in a dozen years, reflecting a negative effect on children’s academic performance and health.

As a result, children end up being in transitional homes or shelters. A common issue with homeless youth is the choice of living on the street or in dangerous situations over homeless shelters. It not only creates an unstable environment but also an unsafe one.

CHALLENGE

It is time to rethink how we address homelessness. The current scheme of shelters is dysfunctional for children and overcrowded. The Safe House proposes to design a living facility for children who face homelessness due to various reasons. The designed teen hostel should run on three principles:
➢ Shelter: giving a stable place to anchor on.
➢ Rehabilitate: Dealing with the trauma of being homelessness.
➢ Integrate: creating part-time job opportunities within the complex.
The aim is not just to provide temporary shelter, but to provide a sense of community such that individuals maintain their self identity.

Judges:
To be announced.