Spatial “mutual altruism” as a relationship of care for homeless people. How design impacts social re-integration.

The paper reports on the potential effects of spatial “mutual altruism” on the social reintegration of homeless people and the key role played by design in establishing this kind of relationship. Nowadays, temporary reception offered by homeless dormitories is still considered strategic, given the prevalence of people who, according to the data, only need accommodation temporarily. On the other side, these places are frequently viewed as containers of discomfort, abandonment, and unwelcomeness. One of the main research objectives is to make third-sector organizations and service providers aware that spatial quality is a fundamental factor that influences the process of social reintegration; “beauty brings beauty.” Participatory Design is seen as the driver of the research, which was conducted using quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Using the quantitative method, which included data and book references, a general background has been set up. A deeper understanding of the study’s issue has been gained through the qualitative method, which includes participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires, with the involvement of social and public actors engaged in the fight against homelessness. Due to the complexity of the housing exclusion problem and the consequently complicated design solutions, one of the outputs of the research is a framework used to analyze the efficacy of existing homeless facilities, creating a paradigm that can be traced across all hospitality models. The framework refers to the categories of needs for usability, well-being, safety, management, and sustainability. Inside the category of well-being, “domesticity” in temporary housing has been a key concept explored. Domesticity is defined as the ability of guests to directly and independently change the space. It stresses how important it is to give guests the chance to create a place where they can feel safe, considering both their physical and emotional needs. The main expected result is to create, design, and offer a sense of belonging for people who may have few social connections. Activating one’s resources and forming new connections require favorable conditions, which design can help to achieve.