The reStart Housing Services apartments at 7540 Washington Street provide permanent housing and support services for young adults aging out of foster care, specifically those with mental health diagnoses. The project, housing 14 one-bedroom apartments, helps these young adults move toward independence and self-sufficiency, preemptively stopping homelessness before it happens. In addition to a strong connection to neighborhood context, the apartments themselves promote a strong sense of community for their residents. The development is the result of more than five years of research, design, community engagement and governmental cooperation.
The building’s plan and section unfold as a series of intimate, open-air courtyards filled with sunlight that bring natural light deep into the center of the complex and allow cross breeze ventilation in each of the dwellings. A separate community building is attached to the main residential building by a common roof; the community building provides office space for management as well as a community room for residents and customized space for meeting or events, open to residents as well as members of the community.