Secure Homes for All

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Project Title:

Project Type:

Infrastructure / Social Program / Economic Development

Scale:

City-wide

Timeline:

Long-term (3+ years)

ISO37101 mapping for ‘Affordable, sustainable housing initiative.’

Scores

Score	Purpose	Issue	Justification
5	Preservation and improvement of environment	Living and working environment	The Secure Homes for All program focuses on building affordable housing with sustainable materials that are flood-resistant. This addresses environmental challenges directly and improves living conditions for lower-income residents by providing safer and more resilient housing options.
5	Social cohesion	Culture and community identity	By involving local artisans in construction and recognizing the historical significance of neighborhoods, the project promotes cultural identity and social integration, fostering a sense of community and belonging among residents.
5	Well-being	Health and care in the community	The initiative aims to create safe and healthy living environments by addressing flood risks and enhancing housing conditions, contributing to the overall well-being of residents and supporting both physical and mental health.
4	Attractiveness	Economy and sustainable production and consumption	The project aims to attract families back to neighborhoods with affordable housing options and local craftsmanship, fostering economic resilience and cultural vitality while addressing housing instability.
4	Resilience	Safety and security	By focusing on flood-resistant designs and sustainable construction, the initiative enhances community resilience against environmental threats, ensuring families can maintain safe living conditions.
4	Responsible resource use	Governance, empowerment and engagement	By promoting community engagement in decision-making and resource management, the program emphasizes responsible use of resources, ensuring that development aligns with community needs.
3	Resilience	Biodiversity and ecosystem services	The initiative’s focus on sustainable materials and flood-resistant designs supports environmental protection and biodiversity enhancement, contributing to the local ecosystem’s resilience.
4	Social cohesion	Living together, interdependence and mutuality	The program’s active community engagement strategy fosters collaboration and interdependence among residents, helping to build strong social bonds and mutual support networks.
4	Preservation and improvement of environment	Community smart infrastructures	The initiative’s emphasis on flood-resistant infrastructure and sustainable building practices aligns with the need for smarter community infrastructures that enhance resilience and environmental stewardship.

CONTEXTUAL FOUNDATION

Specific Local Challenge Addressed:

King’s Landing is grappling with a housing crisis that dangerously threatens the stability and well-being of its lower-income residents. As the city experiences real estate development pressures, many families in neighborhoods like Flea Bottom face the dual concerns of rising housing costs and vulnerability to flooding from severe weather events. The existing infrastructure often lacks resilience, resulting in unsafe living conditions. This initiative, the Secure Homes for All program, aims to mitigate these risks by promoting the construction and retrofitting of affordable housing that prioritizes sustainable materials and flood-resistant designs.

Local Assets Leveraged:

This project will build upon existing community strengths, including the dedication of local organizations that have established bolstered neighborhood networks and resources, especially those aiding low-income families. The North Star Community Center has been a valuable asset in providing education and social services, which can serve as a partner to engage and mobilize residents in the program. Moreover, King’s Landing’s artisan culture and skilled labor can be harnessed to utilize local craftsmanship in building these homes.

Cultural/Social Fit:

The Secure Homes for All initiative aligns with King’s Landing’s values of community equity and resilience. By respecting the historical significance and diversity of the neighborhood, the program honors the aspirations of its residents to live safely and sustainably. It enhances local identity by incorporating traditional building techniques and styles, ensuring that new constructions or retrofits remain in harmony with the neighborhood’s character while addressing urgent housing needs.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Core Concept:

The Secure Homes for All program aims to create safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable housing throughout King’s Landing. It will focus on constructing new homes and retrofitting existing structures, mainly in vulnerable neighborhoods, by using innovative, flood-resilient designs and sustainable materials to provide the community with housing options that are secure against environmental challenges.

Key Components:

Physical/spatial element: The program will establish a framework for constructing and retrofitting homes using sustainable materials. Deploying techniques like raised foundations, permeable surfaces, and natural barriers will create flood-resistant housing. This newly built or retrofitted housing will prioritize energy efficiency and community gardens, creating multifunctional spaces for home and food production.
Programming/activity element: Join hands with local artisans to conduct workshops on sustainable building practices, providing residents both awareness and skills. These workshops will teach retrofitting techniques that residents can employ in their homes, encouraging community investment and participation in the construction process.
Community engagement element: Enlist community leaders and local organizations to forge a coalition of residents who can voice their housing needs, participate in decision-making processes, and lead community improvement projects within the program’s purview. Regular community meetings and feedback sessions will ensure that evolving needs are met over time.

Implementation Approach:

Phase 1: Initially, we will embark on a community assessment to determine the specific needs of residents regarding housing strength and flood resilience. This phase will include collecting data on existing housing conditions, engaging with residents through workshops, and establishing partnerships with local organizations and artisans for program mobilization.
Phase 2: Following the assessment, construction and retrofitting projects will begin. The program will prioritize areas most at risk of flooding, ensuring that new developments and renovations use sustainable practices. Awareness campaigns will elevate community engagement and educate residents on the program’s benefits.
Phase 3: Over time, the program will establish ongoing training opportunities for local artisans, ensuring knowledge transfer and enhancing job opportunities within the community. The focus will shift to maintaining and improving housing conditions, creating a supportive network for future developments, and fostering a culture of sustainability.

STAKEHOLDER ECOSYSTEM

Champions:

Key local actors such as city officials focused on housing and community organizations like the North Star Community Center will drive this initiative. Champions will also include local artisans who can uplift the immediate community with their skills.

Partners:

Essential partners will include construction firms specializing in sustainable designs, disaster resilience organizations, and nonprofit entities that advocate for affordable housing. Academic institutions can offer research support for best practices in building methods and community engagement strategies.

Beneficiaries:

The primary beneficiaries are low-income families directly impacted by housing instability and flooding threats. This initiative will not only provide these families with secure homes but also equip them with skills necessary for long-term sustainability and resilience.

Potential Opposition:

There may be resistance from developers or property owners concerned about regulatory changes affecting property values or market dynamics. By involving them in discussions about community benefits, we can foster a collaborative environment that emphasizes collective well-being over individual profit.

FEASIBILITY & IMPACT

Success Indicators:

Quantitative metric: The number of homes constructed or retrofitted, targeting a goal of 500 units over the initial three years.
Qualitative metric: Increase in community satisfaction levels regarding housing safety and environmental sustainability, measured through resident feedback surveys.
Community-defined metric: Resident-led assessments of the program’s impact, enabling community members to set their own definitions of success regarding housing stability.

Ripple Effects:

This initiative may catalyze further interest in sustainable practices, spurring additional programs focused on environmental education and community architecture. An informed community will likely demand more services that align with sustainability and resilience, strengthening civic engagement and integrating more comprehensive urban planning efforts.

Risk Mitigation:

The primary risk is the potential for project delays due to bureaucratic hurdles and resource allocation. Establishing a clear funding plan, engaging local government early in the process, and creating strong community networks will mitigate this risk effectively.

LOCAL ADAPTATION NOTES

What makes this project uniquely suited to this place:

King’s Landing’s unique history as a cultural and political hub, combined with its socio-economic disparities, calls for an initiative addressing housing’s historical contexts. The Secure Homes for All program is designed to respect and enhance this rich tapestry and tackle urgent housing challenges shared by many families in the neighborhood.

How locals would likely describe this project in their own words:

“They’re working towards making sure families like ours can have homes that not only keep us safe from floods but also respect the way we live. It’s not just about building houses; it’s about caring for our community and making our neighborhood better—together.”