Intentional Sustainable Wellness: Dwellings
The Mike Trolinder Kinship Project
Purpose: Having one's basic needs met in the context of a safe environment, allows the human body to relax and find ease. This relaxation and ease arises when the body's autonomic nervous system finds balance and shifts from a focus on survival to a focus on connection. By providing the basic needs, in a safe environment, to those without the capacity to provide for themselves, ISW aspires to support the well being of individuals, families, and the community with strategies grounded in an understanding of anatomy, physiology, emotions, and behavior.
Who: Any person or family unit who has faced challenges maintaining well-being in the current model of sheltering and care. Persons include but are not limited to those experiencing homelessness for any reason, persons with serious mental illness, persons with lived experience in the judicial system, persons experiencing a major life transition, persons who wish to be of benefit to society and lack the resources to do so.
Proposal: Kinship Rooming House Duet
Place: The project combines two homes on adjoining lots, elsewhere identified as Duet, that contains 14 independent living spaces, 2 of which are joined accessory dwelling units (JADUs). The property also has 2 accessory dwelling units (ADUs). This offers the potential to home 14-18 residents and 2 resident advisors or other necessary staff. The outdoor space is gated providing a private courtyard for resident autonomy. The courtyard is designed to provide a natural, outdoor, fluid, community space that fosters trust and nurtures relationships. The outdoor space also supports gardening, pet ownership, and other outdoor activities. The first floor of the entry gate ADU provides for a community group room. The group room has the capacity to support neighborhood resident drop-in and engagement, depending on the intention of the Duet. Project locations, designed to fit into conventional neighborhoods, are spread throughout the city within walking distance to services, shopping, and public transportation.
Individual Space/Rooms: Fully self-contained with bathrooms and meal preparation area. Efficiency style living provides safety and dignity.
Residents: A diverse yet targeted mix of people are intentionally selected based on history and capacity. With this history, a mental health professional will determine the individual’s prognosis for recovery into self-sufficiency or the need for long-term supported living. With this background, recovery plans can be developed to target the needs of each individual resident/client. Additionally, the program will include living space for peer advocates who fulfill the role of resident advisors (RAs).
Therapy/Support: Group and individual didactics and therapy are provided based on the individual recovery plan. Additionally, residents are encouraged to participate in didactics to learn independent activities of daily living, interpersonal effectiveness, and other necessary skills for self-sufficiency. Groups will also provide a safe place for the mediation of any discord that arises between residents. There is a potential for countless traditional and complementary strategies for recovery; including, but not limited to therapeutic gardening, art therapy, mindfulness, skills development (personal, interpersonal, and professional), talking circles, dietary interventions, and fitness.
