Unhoused to Healing: Trauma-Informed Homes

Affordable housing and homelessness

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Los Angeles faces a homelessness crisis, with thousands living in transitional housing facilities (THFs) lacking the design elements needed for well-being. Poorly designed environments can exacerbate stress and hinder recovery, complicating the transition to permanent housing. This issue must be addressed urgently to break the cycle of homelessness, reduce mental and physical health issues, and lower relapse rates. Our partnership with 12 THFs in LA reveals that 91.67% believe the physical environment significantly impacts residents' well-being, reducing stress and boosting productivity. Additionally, 83.33% believe investing in redesigned spaces enhances residents' control, autonomy, and self-esteem. Using the trauma-informed design guidelines by Dr. Sally Augustin and HOK, we offer a proven framework for creating healing environments. By addressing these needs now, we can significantly improve residents' quality of life and support their journey to permanent housing and stability.

Flip4Good’s Flips Program transforms transitional housing facilities (THFs) by providing comprehensive cosmetic upgrades, including replacing outdated fixtures, painting, and updating appliances. Our initiative integrates trauma-informed design principles to create supportive and healing environments. We begin with an in-depth assessment of each facility’s needs, collaborating with staff to understand how they need the spaces to function, their challenges, and preferences.
The use of trauma-informed design ensures that spaces are aesthetically pleasing and foster recovery and well-being. Focusing on elements that reduce stress and promote safety creates environments where residents feel valued and supported. This design approach incorporates soothing color palettes, comfortable furniture, biophilics, and strategic layouts to enhance privacy and control.
Our program also includes pre- and post-well-being assessments to measure, track, and understand our work's immediate, mid-, and long-term impact. The combination of evidence-based design principles and thorough impact assessments makes our program uniquely positioned to address the needs of transitional housing residents. By enhancing THFs, we provide residents with the dignity and support they need to rebuild their lives and achieve long-term success, ultimately facilitating their transition to permanent housing and fostering stability and growth.

When our work is successful, LA County will see significant improvements in the well-being and stability of residents in transitional housing facilities. In the short term, we aim to complete 3x Flips, leading to better mental and physical health outcomes and increasing residents' chances of transitioning to permanent housing.
In the long term, our vision is to scale the Flips Program nationally, creating a solutions-oriented replicable model. By continuously measuring and refining our approach through pre- and post-well-being assessments, we ensure the effectiveness of our interventions. Additionally, as residents graduate from transitional housing and move into their new homes, we envision them employing trauma-informed design principles to continue their well-being growth trajectory. Our ultimate goal is to break the cycle of homelessness, reduce relapse rates, and empower individuals to achieve long-term success and stability, transforming LA County for the better.

Success is defined by improved well-being and stability of residents in transitional housing facilities (THFs). We measure this through a comprehensive evaluation framework. We begin with pre-assessment surveys to establish baseline metrics for residents’ well-being, including mental and physical health, stress levels, and sense of autonomy and control. Post-flip assessments are conducted at 3, 6, 9 months, 1 year, and subsequent year intervals, provided we can maintain contact with the residents.
Additional KPIs include delivery against scope, trauma-informed design utilization, the number of facilities serviced, project completion time, budget adherence, and feedback from partner facilities. In partnership with social workers and the THFs, we’ll track the transition rate to permanent housing, relapse rates, and resident satisfaction with the redesigned spaces. Qualitative feedback from social workers, residents, and staff further informs our understanding of the impact.