Please join us as students from the Master of Advanced Architectural Studies (MAAS) program present their research. This event will take place on November 11 and November 18. 

To participate online, please use this link: https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/99897778642?pwd=eUR0WnNock1RclVBRUtMaHZLSDJPQT09 

Presenters for November 11: 

Daniel Garrett

Project: Addressing Veteran Homelessness to Combat Veteran Suicide

Veteran homelessness is a major issue on a national level. Homelessness has been defined as not having a “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”. Veterans account for approximately 7% of the total population, but nearly 20% of the homeless adult population are veterans. Systematic reviews found major risk factors for veteran homelessness include substance abuse, mental illness, financial distress, and lack of social support, which are also the main risk factors identified for veteran suicide. With a suicide rate of 81 per 100,000, veterans are an especially vulnerable group, compared to 23 per 100,000 of civilian adults.  

Veteran homeless programs were designed to reduce the overall numbers and ignored the causes of homelessness by treating symptoms rather than the disease. The root causes of homelessness and suicide among veterans must be addressed before such problems are solved. An intervention is needed, and a sustainable, supportive, community-based housing typology, one where veterans feel their voices are heard, will provide just that.

Rosario Dominguez-Tapia

Project: Beyond the Classroom Walls -  The Intersectionality of Education, Design and Community Growth" 

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” —Kofi Annan, former secretary of the United Nations

Education could be one answer to addressing issues of disproportionate disparities in communities suffering from social, economic and environmental impact. While there has been progress made toward improving the quality and accessibility of education, there is still more work to be done, especially for those that are still marginalized. How can design help bridge the gap between educational resources and providing it to those that are marginalized? Much data has been collected on the correlation between educational attainment and the quality of life for individuals and communities as a whole. Yet there are still many who struggle with obtaining this life-changing opportunity.

The project would aim at addressing the issue of educational attainment by narrowing my research to one specific site, Brunswick County, NC to determine possible solutions for improving the accessibility of these resources available to the community. Project research would cover the area-specific challenges, the community and their assets, collaborators, organizational model and roles, program and activities and performance measures to determine a shared vision of success.