The Unhoused Initiative is pleased to announce the recipients of our first Faculty Research Grant. Congratulations to CJ Gabbe (Env. Studies), Jesilyn Faust (Poli. Sci.), and Hashim Said (Civil Eng.)! Each grantee received a $3,000 award to conduct their study. An additional $1,000 award is available upon publication. We are excited to see the results of this important research. Grantees and their study abstracts are listed below.
C.J. Gabbe, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies & Sciences &
Jamie Chang, Associate Professor, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare
Governance to Reduce the Heat Vulnerability of Unhoused Residents
Heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S. and unhoused people compose up to half of heat-related deaths. The purpose of our research is to inform a network of local policies to reduce heat risk for unhoused residents of Santa Clara County. We answer two questions: (1) How do local government plans, policies, and programs address heat risk for unhoused residents? (2) How do different levels of government and disciplines coordinate heat resilience for unhoused residents? We answer these questions using a content analysis of adopted plans and program documents, and semi-structured interviews with staff from public agencies and community-based organizations.
Jesilyn Faust, Lecturer, Political Science
Gender, Race & Houselessness: A local and intersectional approach to homelessness
This study is an in depth examination of the causes of homelessness and the gap between needs and services with an intersectional and local focus on how race and gender impact these issues. In partnership with the Survivors of the Streets Committee of Sacred Heart Community Services, this research will be carried out as a series of interviews and other data gathering centered on racial and gender minorities in the homeless communities around the Guadalupe River Park. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the experiences of the most marginalized people and advocate for a better, data informed, intersectional approach to the homelessness crisis.
Hisham Said, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering & Sustainable Energy
Parametric Design Support System for Sustainable Interim Housing Community Sites
Interim housing is a key component of any strategy to alleviate the current homelessness crisis in California and nationwide. To maximize the return on the public investment, interim housing solutions should be affordable, scalable, and sustainable. This research project aims to develop a parametric decision support system for sustainable interim housing communities in collaboration with the non-profit organization Dignity Moves. The project involves surveying innovative sustainable construction methods, modeling the design process parametrically, and implementing the system using advanced CAD-based virtual design tools.
The Unhoused Initiative at SCU 