2023
WORKS
QUYNH NGUYEN PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
School of Constructed Environments, BFA Interior Design
Designed as a means for child survivors of domestic violence to create the necessary space they need to have a sense of privacy, safety and comfort, The Shell is a collapsible pod that encourages children to exert, explore and regain autonomy through personal agency within an educational setting.
Completed for Pop Up Design in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Viktoria Barbo.
The Shell is an extension of Nguyen’s senior capstone project completed in the spring of 2023 for Design Studio 6: Capstone under the instruction of Adrienne Brown (see page ).
TARGET POPULATION
Child survivors of domestic violence between the ages of 5 to 9 years of age in NYC (Bronx).
Inspired by shells, fabric structures & curvilinear architecture, The Shell, an extension of The Shell Collective, explores how these forms can be explored & incorporated into the design of both these projects to create a sense of enclosure & safety while being whimsical, soft & delicate. To the right is a conceptual collage of these elements which come together to help inform the development of the design.
— Shell anatomy to be used as inspiration for form-finding/pod design
— Whorl, suture & spiral ribs create texture & ‘soft’/’harsh’ forms
— Hermit crabs embody agency through the use of their shell
— Shell as a portable home/safe space
— Fabric as a means of creating protection, while remaining comforting
— Creating a sense of enclosure through wrapping
— Explores the idea of a ‘wearable’ pop up space
DESCRIPTION
To design a lightweight, movable pod for a child to construct on their own & use, multiple factors must be taken into account for ease & accessibility. The dimensions of the pod take into consideration research providing data on children’s heights & use hula hoops as a point of reference in order to design a pod that can be used across the target age group. Future development would reflect variation in pod sizes tailored to different ages/bodies/number of inhabitants & explore the ability to join pods together. Sitting
NOTES
— Average standing height of children according to CDC percentiles
— Age 5: 39” to 48”; Age 9: 48” to 59”
— Hula hoop sizes (diameter) can be used as a rough comparison of what a child may be able to easily move & maneuver.
— Age 4 to 6: 34” to 36”; Age 7 to 9: 36” to 39”
— Sitting height of children can typically range from 24” to 30”
— Ease of assembly/disassembly for a child to handle
— Lightweight material
— Limit the number of steps of assembly
— Material considers levels of density & opacity through layering of fabric to create a sense of privacy for the child while also considering safety & visibility for guardians.
PROCESS Initial wire studies were used to understand how the pod could open & collapse, & helped to determine where mechanisms would be put in place to allow for hinge/rotation. Consideration for tension & anchor points were also explored. The design was then modeled in rhino, first replicating the physical spherical wireform, then manipulated to achieve an irregular form that took inspiration from the surface of shells. Layering of translucent fabric was depicted to show how a sense of privacy could be achieved.
PRELIMINARY DIGITAL MODELING
POD DESIGN
Dining Set has been designed for the sunroom of a residential home, a place for gathering & appreciating the outdoors. Blurring the lines between the indoors & outdoors, the space opens up to the backyard & natural light pours in from the roof.
The furniture is slightly reminiscent of its inspiration: casual seating found in the streets of Vietnam placed in front of food vendors. Although the deviation from the original materiality of plastic to the use of natural wood creates an elevated experience, the portability of the stool helps to promote a flexible & lax environment.
Completed for Furniture Design in the spring of 2022 under the instruction of Wid Chapman.
Natural materiality & form plays a large role in informing the design of the dining set. Tropical leaves from plants such as the banana tree & the bird of paradise were looked at to see how their form could be adapted into the form of these furniture pieces. The curling of leaves, which can be seen in birds of paradise, became the sole inspiration.
— Original plastic chairs are thin & mass produced, fabrication method most likely injection molding — To achieve form with wood, carving is most realistic but requires more time & labor
A strong wooden table with carved wood legs & a live edge wood table top to emphasize the material’s natural beauty.
Front Perspective Elevation
MATERIALITY
1. Black Walnut, The Wood Database —Wood Elements
2. Durango Bone Antislip Paver, Porcelanosa Flooring
3. Textured Weave Wool & Jute Rug, Natural, West Elm —Area Rug
4. Abacá, Natural White Coated, Bananatex —Upholstered Cushions
5. Painted Bamboo, Orange Juice (Benjamin Moore), Custom —Light Fixtures
DESCRIPTION COURSE
Seeking to understand the relationship between interior space and human emotion, a university psychology department proposes a study in which participants inhabit an immersive pod for 72 hours while documenting their experience. The study aims to observe how design decisions informed by color theory may help to encourage an intended state of being.
Euphoria & Fear outlines a design proposal for two immersion pods that boldly explores the impact of color & ornamentation on human perception of space in order to evoke these respective affects. A figure ground reversal pattern was to be designed for application within one of the pods.
Shipping Container Front Elevation
Completed for Color, Ornament & Environment in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Johanne Woodcock.
Shipping Container Original Floorplan
EUPHORIA
Aiming to create a playful & energetic environment, the design of the euphoric pod draws inspiration from the bold choices that can be seen in space age, retro futuristic interiors & the 70s, specifically in their use of the supergraphic.
FEAR
Through observing photography & horror films to identify effective color combinations, materials/surfaces & ornamental details, the design of the fear-inducing pod incorporates these elements to create an eerie, unsettling environment.
DEFINITION A feeling or state of intense excitement & happiness.
COLOR RESEARCH
To design an immersion pod for the arousal of euphoric affects, the development of this color palette utilizes orange as its dominant hue. Orange exudes a level of confidence, a sense of urgency, and demands to be noticed. Cultural links to orange in Western countries and East Asian countries suggest it to be an energetic & prosperous color. Used within branding, the color can be perceived by individuals as friendly & cheerful, encouraging a sense of excitement. In the context of this immersion pod, these heightened positive affects help to create a confident and intense environment. To further engender a sense of euphoria, this dissonant palette is comprised of split complementary hues, specifically values of pink, yellow & blue.
COLOR PALETTE
St. Clair, Kassia. “Orange” in The Secret Lives of Color. 97. https://archive.org/ details/the-secret-lives-of-color/page/n95/mode/2up. 1. Orange Juice (2017-10) —Walls, Ceiling & Subway Tile 2. Citrus Blast (2018-30) —Bedding 3. Sweet Orange (2017-40) Walls, Ceiling & Subway Tile 4. Bright Yellow (2022-30) —Walls, Ceiling & Subway Tile 5. Strawberry Sorbet (2087-50) —Walls, Subway Tile & Flooring 6. Orange Nectar (2013-20) —Lighting Fixtures & Sink 7. Tropicana Cabana (2048-50) Refrigerator
DEFINITION
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
COLOR RESEARCH
For the design of an immersion pod dedicated to the arousal of fear, a harmonious complementary color palette has been developed, employing contrasting hues of red & green, along with the use of dark tones. Although green may often be associated with positive connotations, such as nature, prosperity & luck, its context & shade may alter how it’s perceived. Utilizing yellow-greens or chartreuse, a color that conveys sickliness & disgust, strengthens the color proposal in creating a disturbing environment. The contrast between the dark living space & bright washroom establish a clear division of space, while bringing about a wariness of what may be looming in the darkness, or illuminating across the room.
MasterClass. “Green Color Meaning: Symbolism of the Color Green.” https://www. masterclass.com/articles/green-color-meaning.
COLOR
PALETTE
1. Carriage Red (CW-250) Walls & Ceiling
2. Eccentric Lime (2027-30) Walls & Ceiling
Original Sketch
Figure Ground Reversal Pattern
Refined Line Drawing
3. Castleton Mist (HC-1) Tile Flooring
4. Snow White (OC-66) Subway Tile
5. Mocha Madness (2100-10) Wood Furniture
DESCRIPTION
A collection of 8”x 8” knit swatches showcasing various knit laces, cable knit fabrics, & textural patterns.
MATERIALS
— Juniper Moon, Organic Merino Yarn, “Persimmon”
— Juniper Moon, Organic Merino Yarn, “Indigo”
— Juniper Moon, Organic Merino Yarn, “Driftwood”
COURSE
Completed for Hand Knitting 1 in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Maxcine DeGouttes.
DESCRIPTION
Oyster, a parametric study influenced by the oyster mushroom’s form & aggregation, utilizes Grasshopper to create a form that can be manipulated, multiplied & randomized.
COURSE
Completed for Parametric Design in the fall of 2021 under the instruction of Mia Tsiamis.
Original Script Parameters
Diamond Division
Gill Cuvature
a single script that simultaneously manipulates the form of the gills & randomizes the sizes of the individual units.
A1 Randomized Scale
Extrude curves in the X & Z axes.
DESCRIPTION
The Shell Collective, a proposed nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing youth suvivors of domestic violence with the environmental support necessary for their devlopment & to advocating for change through informing the public of the issues of domestic violence in New York City.
TSC’s project located at The Highland in Longwood, South Bronx, is an educational space & daycare that utilizes design as a means for children to create & interact with their environments in a way that empowers them. The space includes ample open seating & tables, a collection of books & reading material, a computer station, & lightweight collapsible pods that children may use to establish personal space & safety. Ongoing programs & services aimed at providing children with support for their personal & academic development are offered to foster a better relationship with themselves, their education & growth.
COURSES AWARD
Design work completed for Design Studio 6: Capstone in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Adrienne Brown.
Research completed for Studio Lab: Research & Writing in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Elizabeth Kuhn.
BFA Interior Design Social & Environmental Award
Site of TSC’s 15,000 square foot project is located on the 8th floor of The Highland.
BRONX COMMUNITY DISTRICT 1 & 2 HUNTS POINT, LONGWOOD & MELROSE PUMA
Census Data 2021 Provided by CensusReporter.org
RACE AND ETHNICITY
Hispanic 65%
Hispanic Black White Other
POVERTY
SITE INFO
— Location: The Highland in Longwood, Bronx
— Name of building changed & address unspecified for the privacy of residents & involved organizations.
— Architects: Magnusson Architecture & Planning (MAP Architects)
— Type: Affordable Housing Development
— Services & housing for low income & survivors of domestic violence.
— Total Square Footage: 69,447 sq ft
Poverty 37%
Poverty Above Poverty Line
50% of children under 18 are in poverty
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT No Degree High School Some School College Degree
No Degree 34%
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Under $50K 70%
Under $50K $50k-$100K $100K-$200K Over $200K
Definitions of home hold subjective meanings formed through varied experiences, relationships and beliefs. Initial precedent research focused on analyzing instances where ideas of home, comfort, safety, transition and refuge could be embodied or represented. In the following diagrams, we aim to depict how comfort can be established, whether it be how deterrence and barriers create safety for children in a public library; how a transient individual, such as a homeless person, may utilize the resources available to them to create a sleeping arrangement; or a distribution of one’s belongings in an unfamiliar space, such as a hotel room.
Deterrence Through Spatial Constraint Stavros
The allure of New York City is fueled by the idea of opportunity; a city where hopes and dreams are brought to be realized. Yet, despite its optimistic reputation, the city grapples with humanitarian crises that reveal cracks in systems that can no longer support the growing numbers of its residents. As a result, a state of crisis has become a condition of urban life. Rates of poverty and homelessness persist as it grows increasingly harder to sustain a living. High housing demands have caused a surge in rent prices, leading to a housing shortage in affordability. Those seeking to make The Big Apple their home are left with slim pickings of homes for rent under $1,500 and face a competitive market where apartments in Manhattan go for a median of $4,000.1 With costs this high, there is no wonder as to why the metropolis has become the epicenter of family homelessness in the United States. Currently, 1 in 4 Americans experiencing family homelessness live in New York City. 2
To combat these alarming figures, the city must utilize an intersectional approach to understanding the multifaceted nature of the causes of homelessness in order to provide effective solutions. Evidence of intersectionality between poverty, homelessness and abuse has been emphasized within fields of research, identifying domestic violence as the primary cause for, not only family homelessness, but for one of the most vulnerable populations: homelessness amongst youths. In the student population alone, the
number of homeless students in New York has increased by over 45% in the past decade from 78,000 to its peak in 2018 at 114,650,3 with a large percentage being domestic violence survivors. Efforts by the city and related organizations have made strides in improving the support given to child domestic violence survivors, but the lack of implementation of long-term solutions fails to substantially address the root causes and only perpetuates the existence of poverty, homelessness and domestic violence. In order to achieve long-term solutions that address the root of this crisis a twofold approach is required: continued research on how to better serve youths who have experienced domestic violence and their journey to securing permanent housing; and the prioritization of government funding and political support for permanent, equitable housing.
A child is continuously seeking to understand the world around them, trying to make sense of the things they are seeing, experiencing and feeling. Interactions between a child and those they are surrounded by are extremely formative in how they begin to construct and understand themselves, their relationships with others, and their interactions in and with physical environments. A healthy and supportive home environment is effective and critical at encouraging a child to develop a sense of autonomy and confidence, as well as healthy communication and adaptive coping skills.
Unfortunately, there are many cases where children fall victim to unhealthy and volatile home environments that involve abuse, creating conflict with healthy development.
Domestic violence, which describes acts of physical, sexual and or psychological harm to a victim by a perpetrator within their domestic circle, includes physical violence, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviors. Research on domestic violence in recent decades has built a strong foundation of knowledge on the nature of perpetration, the cycle of violence and the effects abuse has on survivors. A growing body of studies have specifically observed how children are impacted, finding
overwhelmingly negative effects. Researchers have consistently found evidence of the detrimental effects on a child’s wellbeing and mental health, along with their social, emotional, and behavioral development.4
Due to the highly stressful and volatile nature of an abusive environment, a child’s understanding of safety, boundaries, self-expression/autonomy, social interaction and coping skills may be underdeveloped or maladaptive. Responses to domestic violence vary based on factors including, but not limited to age, development, personality, circumstance and relationship to the perpetrator.5 In abusive situations safety is a main concern, as the perpetrator creates an unsettling uncertainty within the home that likely induces feelings of fear, anxiety, tension and distrust. These feelings are enhanced as a sense of control is often stripped from them, undermining their sense of self and autonomy and restricting their development, independence and self worth.6
Variation in how a survivor responds to the experience and trauma of abuse is dependent on how the survivor adapts: through resiliency or through impairment.7 The child’s age also plays a large role in how they respond, such as regressive behaviors in toddlers, disruptive behavior in young children, and risky behaviors in older children. Some children may feel isolated or isolate themselves due to low self-esteem, depression, introversion, or underdeveloped social skills, while others may become hypervigilant and seek external resources to escape the abuse. They may also experience aggression and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as detachment, impaired memory, and flashbacks.8
Unfortunately, survivors face continued difficulties when choosing to break free from their abusers in search for safety and shelter. The decision can be extremely difficult and take multiple attempts before the cycle of violence is broken, causing multiple periods of homelessness.9 The transitional period between a survivor leaving the site of the abuse to establishing themselves within a safe and permanent home can be an incredibly challenging journey. Survivors may often find themselves stuck within different
transitional housing stages for uncertain periods of time, exacerbating the amount of time spent out of a permanent home. Age and circumstance are key dictators in the avenues of recovery. Child survivors embarking on this journey generally fall into two categories: accompanied youth, or runaway and homeless youth (RHY). Accompanied youth are child survivors that still remain within custody of a parent or guardian while fleeing from an abuser. Children are often quite young and experience the journey alongside a caregiverthat can navigate and advocate for them. Unaccompanied youths, also considered as runaway and homeless youths, are children experiencing homelessness that are not in custody of a parent or guardian. Typically, RHY are in their adolescence, and face homelessness due to severe family dysfunction. Studies found that 20-40% of unaccompanied homeless youth were sexually abused in their homes, while 40-60% were physically abused.10
Although the child is no longer within the abuser’s presence, feelings of fear, anxiety and a perceived lack of control may transcend their old home environment, manifested through further uncertainty created through an upheaval of familiarity, new geographical areas, and imposed limitations placed upon them by adults and the systems and environments they are forced to interact with. For RHY, it may be more difficult to access safe housing or shelter due to age restrictions that limit them from consenting to services without a guardian; a fear of child welfare involvement; and a lack of available services and resources.11
Despite the many obstacles a child survivor faces while experiencing the trauma of abuse and while seeking safety in a new environment, they remain resourceful in order to cope and survive. “Understanding Agency and Resistance Strategies” (UNARS), a project analyzing how children managed their interactions with spatiality and material objects to create and enhance feelings of safety and security, found that survivors would enact corporeal agency by constructing barriers to hide from and resist violence; positioning themselves within spaces that allow for quick and effective escape or access to help when
conflict arises;12 and utilizing material resources, such as a comfortblanket or a doll, to self soothe13 when experiencing an abusive environment. In the “Safety and Resiliency At Home” (SARAH) project, interviews and focus groups were conducted with children and their mothers to gain a better understanding of a child’s sense of safety within the context of domestic violence. Results found that children’s sense of agency after abuse can be supported and encouraged by physical distance from the perpetrator; modeling safe and healthy relationships; and promoting their sense of co-constructing family resiliency.14
Modeled in these two studies is a child-centered approach, framing the child, their experiences and their understanding of that experience explicitly within their research. In furthering the research on child survivors of domestic violence, researchers must ensure that they are capturing the gravity of the effects that domestic violence has on children, and listening to the voices of these children more thoughtfully in order to avoid stigmatizing and stereotyping representations.15 In pushing a childcentered approach, researchers will have more accurately representative data that will be conducive to understanding a child’s experience with domestic violence, how to better support their needs and healing, and improving intervention strategies. Having a vast body of research that looks into how children cope, not only with the trauma of abuse, but with responses to the various circumstances they face after leaving the abusive situation, can work towards helping to mitigate traumatizing the survivor even further during the process of rehousing.
Housing support for survivors are most commonly categorized as emergency shelters, transitional or second stage housing, or permanent housing.16
Emergency shelters are oftentimes the most appropriate accommodation for many survivors, providing short or medium term housing for different populations including individuals, caregivers and their children, and RHY.
Survivors may be serviced through dedicated domestic violence shelters provided though the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and supportive organizations, or through general shelters provided by NYC’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS). Domestic violence shelter locations are undisclosed to the public, upholding confidentiality for the privacy of their residents. Access to these services requires that the individual call into NYC’s domestic violence hotline to get in touch with staff that can help find the resources they need. Depending on the program, survivors may stay up to 180 days, and generally have access to sleeping arrangements, basic necessities like food, clothes and toiletries, laundry facilities,17 and assistance for counseling, legal advocacy, housing, employment, and other services. Specifically at shelters for RHY and young adults, there are services for specialized counseling, education and job training.18 Survivors going through the DHS shelter system may seek shelter at emergency intake centers with no maximum duration of stay, given they are actively seeking housing, but will not have the same precautions for confidentiality or privacy of the shelter’s location. Transitional housing serves as the bridge between emergency shelters and permanent housing, offering survivors with a more long term stay as they continue on their journey to securing permanent housing. The duration of their stay can range from 90 days to a year depending on the program. Transitional Independent Living (TIL) programs are specifically dedicated for RHY, and are usually accessed by referral after going through emergency shelters.19 Evidence-based and practice-informed models for transitional housing have been studied and adapted to fit the needs of homeless and at-risk sub-populations, (e.g., low-income domestic violence survivors, seniors, RHY, veterans, and families, specifically the rapid rehousing model (RRH). 20 RRH, identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a preferred method of addressing family homelessness, quickly moves individuals or families into permanent housing before they become homeless or as soon as possible after entering a shelter. 21 This model gives individuals who would otherwise be turned away for their income or credit history the opportunity to permanent housing through means of assistance, such as rental vouchers, and help to cover move-in costs, security deposits, as well as rental and/or utility payments for an
allotted amount of time. 22
Permanent housing allows survivors to establish a permanent home address, while also having access to subsidized housing and supportive communities and services. 23 Two types of programs are supportive permanent housing programs that target specific individuals who have been identified with the greatest barriers to independent living, usually chronically homeless persons with medical disabilities such as substance abuse or mental illness, and service-enriched permanent housing programs, which are less service intensive and serve a wider range of populations “from special needs populations (e.g., families headed by domestic violence survivors, child-welfare involved families, runaway and homeless youth, very low-income seniors) to low income families and individuals who do not present with any particular barriers to housing besides income.”24
Other alternatives to these three housing options include safe homes/networks, where community members provide temporary accommodation within private residential spaces; emergency safe spaces, which can be located at hotels, hospitals or faith-based organizations; and confidential private accommodation, like community housing facilities. 25 Sanctuary schemes, such as the safety in place model, can provide survivors with the option to remain in their current housing arrangement if safety measures are taken to ensure their safety. This is done by removing the perpetrator, either through Order of Protection or Exclusion, arrest, or removal by other means. 26
Although these options are all vital to providing needed support for survivors, NYC focuses the majority of its efforts towards emergency housing and services, which does not ultimately propel the majority of survivors back on their feet. With shelters coming closer to capacity and a lack of permanent housing resources, survivors have been transferred between shelters instead of securing permanent housing. 27 This has been increasingly observed within the youth shelter system, where the city, already struggling to provide accommodation for NYC’s homeless youth, is facing an influx of young immigrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border28 and are coming by
busloads from Texas, many without a home.
Undeniably, rates of domestic violence in New York City have steadily increased,29 amplifying the discourse on the effectiveness of the city’s current methods at targeting the issue. Criticism on the use of funding has been voiced for a number of years, but the city hasn’t responded quickly enough. Almost two decades ago, the Domestic Violence and Permanent Housing Task Force requested that the New York City Independent Budgeting Office review the city’s spending on domestic violence for the 2005 fiscal year. The data provided through this review drew to the conclusion that “relatively little is spent by the city directly on programs designed to meet victims’ long-term needs.”30 To this day, this conclusion still remains true.
City spending can be broken down into four categories: emergency social services, enforcement, prevention services, and long-term services. Emergency social services cover sheltering, case management, healthcare and child welfare-related services. In 2005, almost 80% of the city’s spending was used to handle these services, amounting to nearly $180 million.31 The HRA and DHS are two of the many departments that are involved with emergency services, and although they provide immediate relief to survivors seeking shelter, they are not designed to be a direct cure to the problem. City spending for enforcement related activities, such as responding to reports of domestic violence, and arresting, prosecuting, and supervising perpetrators, amounted to around $44 million according to IBO’s review.32 Prevention services and long-term services, arguably the two most effective services for directly targeting domestic violence, future perpetration and increasing the chances of ending the cycle of homelessness amongst survivors, received a combined total of less than $4 million.33 Although the review did not cover indirect costs, and state and federal funds, these numbers reveal the deficiencies of the city’s financial support for preventative measures against domestic violence, its perpetuation, and its relationship with homelessness. Permanent housing has been heavily advocated for, but as aforementioned, affordability in NYC has dwindled with increased demand, making availability
extremely limited and difficult to come by. The majority of spending dedicated to long-term solutions for domestic violence survivors comes from the federal government through funding for priority access to public housing and rental subsidies, specifically Section 8 vouchers.34 At the city level, NYC faces numerous barriers to increasing the supply of affordable housing including: outdated and problematic zoning restrictions; the cost of buildings, especially subsidizing and supporting affordable housing; and the inability for state and local politicians to come to viable solutions.35
Impacts are devastating to youths who are navigating difficulties and instabilities, unable to find a permanent home. In 2021, there were 30,000 students who lived in shelters, 69,000 who doubled up with other families, and 5,500 who were unsheltered, living in places like cars, parks and abandoned buildings.36 Hardship and the overwhelming conditions of homelessness and trauma can understandably consume the majority of a child’s attention, making it difficult to focus on their own development, especially their academics. Despite provisions through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, positing that all youths experiencing homelessness have a right to go to school no matter where they live37 and attempting to ensure that all students have access to an adequate education regardless of distance or situation, youths still face disruptions to their education. Over 60% of homeless children living in shelters were considered “chronically absent” in 2021, meaning that they missed at least 10% of their school days.38 Unfortunately, the city falls short when addressing these numbers, and the issue is further exacerbated with a leadership vacuum at the Department of Education’s Office of Students in Temporary Housing, where at least eight top positions were vacant by September 2022, including the executive director’s position.39
Change is required in multiple facets at multiple levels in order to achieve substantial solutions for the complex issue of homelessness and domestic violence amongst populations in NYC, especially children and youths. Research on these subjects are constantly growing and
evolving, providing us with transparency on the prevalence and gravity of these humanitarian issues within the city, deepening our understanding of how individuals are impacted, and serving as evidence to numerous approaches and solutions that can effectively combat these issues.
Advocates and organizations like New Destiny Housing (NDH), a non-profit dedicated to empowering and providing housing and services to survivors, as well as informing policy makers and the public on the needs of survivors, have outlined numerous recommendations. Forefronted in their priorities are better access to permanent housing and a more effective use of funding. Under Eric Adam’s administration, the promise of easier building for developers in 2024 through relaxed requirements, rezoning and code streamlining is a step in the right direction and opens up the possibility of positive change for survivors.40 NDH suggests allowing survivors to have access to homeless set-aside units provided by New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Through this program, over 2,000 units are created annually, but only those classified as a part of the DHS shelter system have access, disqualifying many domestic violence survivors for consideration.41 The organization also suggests making domestic violence survivors a priority population to be qualified for NYC 15/15, a supportive housing program.42
Along with housing suggestions, many advocates have voiced criticism on funding. As previously discussed, funding for preventative and long-term services receives the least amount of city funding, despite being effective services for mitigating experiences of domestic violence and homelessness. NDH has encouraged the city to develop a $10 million innovation fund to “support best practices to mitigate or avoid the trauma of homelessness for survivors and their children.”43 Additionally, discourse surrounding the Fair Student Funding Formula (FSF Formula), a budget used across the majority of NYC public schools since 2007, has created enough pressure to produce change. The formula, failing to serve populations of students equitably, specifically vulnerable students in temporary housing and the foster care system, has finally changed after three years of review and stalling. Advocates
have pinpointed ways the funding could be used to serve these vulnerable populations such as investments in household resources like laundry facilities, mental health resources/professionals specifically trained to assist homeless students, schools supplies, technology, and nutritious food, and for students to participate in sports, creativity and extra educational resources.44
Providing adequate support to survivors requires an approach that champions long-term goals and intersectionality. Advocates and researchers have offered valuable insights into how the city may address the issues of homelessness and domestic violence amongst youths more effectively. If heightened consideration is taken to ensure a better understanding of survivors’ experiences, funding is better utilized, and actions are put in place to improve the state of affordable and equitable housing, child survivors of domestic violence in NYC will have greater chances of prospering in healthier and safer environments.
1 Mihir Zaveri, “Why It’s So Hard to Find an Affordable Apartment in New York,” The New York Times, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/ nyregion/nyc-affordable-apartment-rent.html.
2 “2022 NYC Policy Priorities,” New Destiny Housing, 2022, https://newdestinyhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/PolicyPlatform2022b.pdf.
3 Troy Closson, “More Than 104000 New York City Students Were Homeless Last Year,” The New York Times, 2022, https://www.nytimes. com/2022/10/26/nyregion/nyc-homeless-students.html.
4 Joanne H. Alexander, Jane E. Callaghan, Judith Sixsmith, and Lisa Fellin, “Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space in Situations of Domestic Violence” ResearchGate, 3 (January 2016), DOI: 10.1007/978-981-4585-51-4 23.
5 “Domestic Violence from a Child’s Point of View,” Jenny’s Place, accessed February 22, 2023, https://www.jennysplace.org/domestic-violencefrom-a-childs-point-of-view/.
6 Jenny’s Place, “Child’s Point of View.”
7 Alexander, Callaghan, Sixsmith, and Fellin, “Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space,” 13.
8 Alexander, Callaghan, Sixsmith, and Fellin, “Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space,” 4.
9 Joshi, “Understanding the Built Environment of Shelter Homes for Survivors of Domestic Violence,” 11.
10 SchoolHouse Connection, “Unaccompanied Youth.”
11 SchoolHouse Connection, “Unaccompanied Youth.”
12 Alexander, Callaghan, Sixsmith, and Fellin, “Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space,” 15.
13 Alexander, Callaghan, Sixsmith, and Fellin, “Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space,” 16.
14 Anita Morris, Kelsey Hegarty, and Cathy Humphreys, “Children’s Views of Safety and Adversity When Living with Domestic Violence,” in Domestic Violence and Protecting Children: New Thinking and Approaches, (London, England: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2015), 31.
15 Alexander, Callaghan, Sixsmith, and Fellin, “Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space,” 17.
16 Joshi, “Understanding the Built Environment of Shelter Homes for Survivors of Domestic Violence,” 13-14.
17 “What to expect when going to a shelter or safe house | Day One - Crisis Hotline,” Day One Crisis Line, accessed February 22, 2023, http:// dayoneservices.org/going-to-a-shelter/.
18 David Brand and Daniel Parra “NYC’s Youth Shelter System Is Running Out of Space,” City Limits, 2022, https://citylimits.org/2022/09/29/nycsyouth-shelter-system-is-running-out-of-space/.
19 Brand and Parra, “NYC’s Youth Shelter System Is Running Out of Space.”
20 “New Destiny Housing » 3 Models,” New Destiny Housing, accessed February 22, 2023, https://newdestinyhousing.org/models-draft/.
21 “New Destiny Housing » 3 Models,” New Destiny Housing, accessed February 22, 2023, https://newdestinyhousing.org/models-draft/.
22 New Destiny Housing, “3 Models.”
23 Joshi, “Understanding the Built Environment of Shelter Homes for Survivors of Domestic Violence,” 14.
24 New Destiny Housing, “3 Models.”
25 Joshi, “Understanding the Built Environment of Shelter Homes for Survivors of Domestic Violence,” 15.
26 New Destiny Housing, “3 Models.”
27 New Destiny Housing, “2022 NYC Policy Priorities.”
28 Closson, “More Than 104000 New York City Students Were Homeless Last Year.”
29 New Destiny Housing, “3 Models.”
30 New York City Independent Budget Office, “City Spending on Domestic Violence: A Review,” IBO Fiscal Brief, 2007, https://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/ iboreports/DomesticViolenceSpending.pdf.
31 New York City Independent Budget Office, “City Spending.”
32 New York City Independent Budget Office, “City Spending.”
33 New York City Independent Budget Office, “City Spending.”
34 New York City Independent Budget Office, “City Spending.”
35 Zaveri, “Why It’s So Hard to Find an Affordable Apartment in New York.”
36 Closson, “More Than 104000 New York City Students Were Homeless Last Year.”
37 “The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act,” Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness, accessed February 22, 2023, https://www. icphusa.org/mkv/.
38 Closson, “More Than 104000 New York City Students Were Homeless Last Year.”
39 Cayla Bamberger, “NYC DOE team aiding homeless students facing ‘leadership vacuum’ amid migrant flood,” New York Post, 2022, https:// nypost.com/2022/09/16/nyc-doe-team-aiding-homeless-students-has-leadership-vacuum/.
40 Zaveri, “Why It’s So Hard to Find an Affordable Apartment in New York.”
41 New Destiny Housing, “2022 NYC Policy Priorities.”
42 New Destiny Housing, “2022 NYC Policy Priorities.”
43 “2021 NYC Policy Priorities.” New Destiny Housing, 2021, https://newdestinyhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/PolicyPlatform2021.pdf.
44 Julian Roberts and Charles Lauster, “NYC’s Schools Funding Formula Should Consider Homeless Students, Advocates Say,” City Limits, 2022, https://citylimits.org/2022/10/03/nycs-schools-funding-formula-should-consider-homeless-students-advocates-say/.
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