As one of the most common social phenomena in society, homelessness continues to occur in every city in the world for several years. They are like a part of the city's infrastructure, often forgotten by pedestrians. In China, the central government has issued a particular policy on homelessness, and since 2011 there have been few homeless people on the streets or in other public places. The Novel Coronavirus pandemic broke out in China at the end of 2019 and spread globally, straining medical resources and causing a decline in socio-economic development in countries worldwide. More and more people have been forced to become homeless by the epidemic. As the identity of the homeless is in the social particularity, it is difficult for the homeless to get self-identity affirmation in the society. Thus, homeless people more or less suffer from mental illness and estrangement from society, which is why homeless people have become one of the most vulnerable groups in China. Through practice-based research, this study proposes that based on the adjustment of architectural structure and the combination of multiple spatial functional areas, design a flexible, multifunctional housing structure/ shelter available in the conditions of crisis for Chinese homeless people. Through the study of existing literature and existing projects and data collection from staff with homelessness-related work backgrounds. This paper analyzes the basic needs of homeless people and their mental health problems. The four critical elements of detachable, removable, multifunctional and sustainable development were identified as the design criteria for the research project. By improving the living quality and living standards of the homeless in China, this study explores a multifunctional community exclusively for the homeless to build their social identity, increase their social confidence and cultivate their social survival ability.

As one of the most common social phenomena in society, homelessness continues to occur in every city for several years. They are like a part of the city's infrastructure, often forgotten by pedestrians. In China, the central government has issued a particular policy on homelessness, and since 2011 there have been few homeless people on the streets or in other public places. The Novel Coronavirus pandemic broke out in China at the end of 2019 and spread globally, straining medical resources and causing a decline in socio-economic development worldwide. More and more people have been forced to become homeless by the epidemic. As the identity of the lost is in the social particularity, it is difficult for the homeless to get self-identity affirmation in the society. Thus, homeless people more or less suffer from mental illness and estrangement from the community, which is why homeless people have become one of the most vulnerable groups in China.

Through practice-based research, this study proposes that based on the adjustment of architectural structure and the combination of multiple spatial functional areas, design a flexible, multifunctional housing structure/ shelter available in the conditions of crisis for Chinese homeless people through the study of existing literature and existing projects and data collection from staff with homelessness-related work backgrounds. This paper analyses the basic needs of homeless people and their mental health problems.

The four critical elements of detachable, removable, multifunctional and sustainable development were identified as the design criteria for the research project. By improving the living quality and living standards of the homeless in China, this study explores a multifunctional community exclusively for the homeless to build their social identity, increase their social confidence and cultivate their social survival ability.

—Abstract

Guannian Pu

s5070923

Design a flexible, multifunctional housing structure/ shelter available in conditions of crisis for Chinese homeless people

According to the United Nations Human Settlement programmer (2018), in general, people who survive on the streets, under bridges and in other public places cannot work without the corresponding welfare protection of the homeless. Similarly, the Chinese government is also under tremendous pressure over the social phenomenon of homelessness. "The number of homeless in China reached 2,579,000 in 2011"(Qiu & Zufferey, 2017), as of the latest report on China's homelessness.