St. Elizabeth Shelter & Architecture for Humanity

A portion of all proceeds from Design Santa Fe 2011 will be donated to the St. Elizabeth Shelter in Santa Fe and San Francisco–based Architecture for Humanity, a nonprofit design services firm. To date, SFIDP has contributed $24,000 to the Santa Fe Youth Shelters, and members of SFIDP also volunteered their time to design the interiors of the facility’s living units.

 

St. Elizabeth Shelter is a multiple-program organization created in 1986 to address the needs of Santa Fe’s homeless population.

Although it takes its name from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, the Shelter organization is not affiliated with any religion or creed and provides its services without discrimination.

St. Elizabeth Shelter, a non-profit organization, runs seven programs including an emergency shelter for men; an emergency shelter for women and families; three transitional housing programs for individuals with disabilities, seniors, and families; a biweekly resource center; and a homeless court.

 

Architecture for Humanity is a nonprofit design services firm founded in 1999 with the mission to build a more sustainable future through the power of professional design.

By tapping a network of more than 50,000 professionals willing to lend time and expertise to help those who would not otherwise be able to afford their services, AfH brings design, construction and development services where they are most critically needed.

Each year 25,000 people directly benefit from structures designed by Architecture for Humanity. Their advocacy, training and outreach programs impact an additional 60,000 people annually. AfH channels the resources of the global funding community to meaningful projects that make a difference locally. From conception to completion, AfH manages  all aspects of the design and construction process. Clients include community groups, aid organizations, housing developers, government agencies, corporate divisions, and foundations.

Design is important to every aspect of our lives. It informs the places in which we live, work, learn, heal and gather. AfH engages all stakeholders in the design process and believes their clients are designers in their own right.

Thoughtful, inclusive design creates lasting change in communities by:
• Alleviating poverty and providing access to water, sanitation, power and essential services
• Bringing safe shelter to communities prone to disaster and displaced populations
• Rebuilding community and creating neutral spaces for dialogue in post-conflict areas
• Mitigating the effects of rapid urbanization in unplanned settlements
• Creating spaces to meet the needs of those with disabilities and other at-risk populations
• Reducing the footprint of the built environment and addressing climate change