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In Spring 2018 I was awarded the International Interior Design Association Northern Pacific Chapter Spencer De Mille Traveling Fellowship. The fellowship is offered bi-annually through the Chapter's Knowledge Advancement Fund, in honor of past president Spencer De Mille. It is meant to support foreign travel to research innovative practices in regards to the built environment, and assess their application in our community.

Through this fellowship I will explore examples of interior design having a substantial impact on formerly homeless peoples housing retention and the restoration of their dignity.

My research will focus on those transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, by evaluating a range of design, architectural, and affordable housing models. I believe Interior Designers have the ability to help solidify the recovery and well-being of vulnerable populations.

Elizabeth Mahan

Apr 19, 2019
1 min

Research Completion + Continued Travel

Thank you for following my Fellowship travel, Zurich was my last stop for research. I am grateful to have had this opportunity, and...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Apr 16, 2019
2 min

Domicil Housing Agency, Zürich

Predominantly working with migrants, Domicil connects disadvantaged individuals and families to low cost housing throughout Zurich. Their...

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ABZ... General Building Cooperative Zürich

Elizabeth Mahan

Apr 16, 2019
1 min

ABZ... General Building Cooperative Zürich

At over 100 years old, ABZ is a “non-profit housing cooperative with around 5000 residential properties in the city and in the greater...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Apr 6, 2019
2 min

Alles Wird Gut Architektur, Vienna

Alles Wird Gut, translated as “Everything is Fine,” is an architecture firm in downtown Vienna that focuses on doing more with what’s...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Apr 6, 2019
1 min

"Winning the War on Poverty"

Quick read... "Winning the War on Poverty. Canadians are doing it, we're not." By David Brooks, Opinion Columnist Thought this NYT...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 31, 2019
2 min

Y-Foundation _ Finnish Housing First

Finland is one of the only countries in the EU where homelessness is decreasing, so I was incredibly grateful to spend nearly four full...

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"Evicted - Poverty and Profit in the American City"

Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 22, 2019
1 min

"Evicted - Poverty and Profit in the American City"

I could not put this book down. It is a captivating account following the ups and downs of families and individuals navigating the...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 20, 2019
1 min

A Home of Your Own, Finland

Adopting the Finnish “Housing First” model, the Y-Foundation explains how it’s one of the only countries with declining rates of...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 15, 2019
2 min

The Cottages Part II: [bc]WORSHOP

Visiting the offices of buildingcommunityWORKSHOP was an important shift in how I will think about this research going forward. I wanted...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 15, 2019
2 min

The Cottages Part I: City Square

I arrived at the wrong address, my first travel fail so far. However, rather than meeting at the office downtown, I’d brought myself to...

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The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, Dallas

Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 14, 2019
2 min

The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, Dallas

I arrived at The Bridge in the dreary overcast morning uncertain about what I was walking into and a disbelief that Seattle’s gray skies...

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Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 13, 2019
1 min

Dallas Love

The first thing you notice about Dallas coming from Seattle is that people speak to each other. Strangers. They say hello and strike up...

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Starting local... Humble Design, Seattle WA

Elizabeth Mahan

Mar 11, 2019
2 min

Starting local... Humble Design, Seattle WA

"It's a snowball effect of positivity," Tia said over lunch. She and her team of six are the faces of Humble Design in Seattle, an...

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SPENCER DE MILLE TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP

2018-2019

Elizabeth Mahan

BY

IIDA

NORTHERN PACIFIC CHAPTER

Through this fellowship I will explore examples of interior design having a substantial impact on formerly homeless peoples housing retention and the restoration of their dignity.

My research will focus on those transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, by evaluating a range of design, architectural, and affordable housing models. I believe Interior Designers have the ability to help solidify the recovery and well-being of vulnerable populations.

Research

SPENCER DE MILLE TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP

2018-2019

Elizabeth Mahan

BY

IIDA

NORTHERN PACIFIC CHAPTER

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Through this fellowship I will explore examples of interior design having a substantial impact on formerly homeless peoples housing retention and the restoration of their dignity.

​

​

My research will focus on those transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, by evaluating a range of design, architectural, and affordable housing models. I believe Interior Designers have the ability to help solidify the recovery and well-being of vulnerable populations.

​

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Research