PEER-BASED RECOVERY HOUSING

We are honored to share our work with the Rescue Mission of El Paso, Texas - an organization that not only provides food, shelter and assistance to people struggling with homelessness, but also runs a migrant shelter, an award-winning BBQ restaurant employing their residents, and an outreach center for homeless El Pasoans not currently residing in their shelter. The Rescue Mission of El Paso reached out to us to design a new type of housing for them. Intended for residents who have recently graduated from the Rescue Mission's drug and alcohol prevention program, this housing project relies on the power of community, accountability, and group living to create a healthy and supportive place for residents to live and grow. To ensure this project's success, we researched examples of successful communal housing around the world, studied trauma-oriented design, and had conversations with people who have recently completed the Rescue Mission's drug and alcohol prevention program. The result is a housing project like no other that we hope will be a successful model of how housing can be more than just a home, but a center of healing and community. 

The project features eight 8-bed, 4-bath units. There is a central administration building with offices and laundry facilities. A portion of the existing warehouse building next door is being converted into a large community gathering space with a commercial kitchen, mezzanine and outdoor deck. The community-oriented focus of the project is reflected through ample outdoor space including a covered patio, community garden, amphitheater seating, memorial garden, grassy lawn, and several seating areas throughout.