HOMELESS AND THE HIGH ST
After spending weeks researching, discovering and integrating with the people of Hulme I arrived at a point where I began to depict this information in a way to develop a coherant and vital programme for the site. Through development research with my practice, Anon. we developed the methodology of co-localities in Hulme. We recognised that as a community Hulme was actually made up of seperate localities. We began to challenge the word community and instead use the term co-locality. This resulted in a methodology which seeks to unite the localities and develop a way to become a co-locality through the means of architecture. The diagram above visualises what my scheme intends to do in this regard. Bringing the localities (shown in green) together to one site. Aswell as bringing together the localities as a whole, the aim for this scheme is to become a place where people who sit outside the boundary of social norm are accepted and welcomed in. Inviting the homeless into the scheme will allow this space to be a place where people engage with each other and become integrated back into society (shown in brown).
RESOLVING ISSUES THROUGH RE-APPROPRIATION AND TRAINING
The two issues of homelessness and the need for reappropriation of the high st require a meeting point for the two to integrate. Both issues require similiar needs for training, in business and in employment skils. Initially the process of learning together will encourage the integration of people from the localities with not only each other but also with the homeless guests of the shelter. As they combine in the training centre they then move into the shop units where there skills are used as an outlet to further integrate with remaining localities, as well as the homeless guests given an opportunity to submerge themselves back into society.
THE ISSUE OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN HULME
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE: RESOLVING SOCIAL ISSUES WITH BUSINESS
'Social enterprises trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people's life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community.'
- The Social Enterprise Coalition
The training and retail element of this project takes its inspiration from the social enterprise model. Aiming to resolve the social issue of homelessness and unemployment through business. From looking at two key social enterprise models, The Clink and The Giving Keys, elements of the Leaf St scheme will encompass ideals from these models. Those who are trained together in the training centre will then be employed on site in different stores. The stores will vary from some laid out as social enterprises, to some established by local tradesmen who then employ those being trained.
5.1%
Current Unemployment Rate in UK
This graph shows the most current census data of unemployment in Hulme during 2011. This is significantly higher tha the national average of umeployment.