Category:
Winner: Community Impact
Name:
Lotus House Women’s Shelter/Lotus Village
By:
Lotus House
Project address:
217 N.W. 15th St., Miami 33136
KEY PARTNERS
General contractor: Civic Construction
Architect: Behar Font & Partners, PA
Homeless shelters have historically evolved around the needs of adults, with little attention to the millions of children in tow.
Lotus Village was designed and developed as a prototype for the future, providing comprehensive homeless services, through community coming together, collaboration and putting children first. With the goal of seeing all children thrive and build the foundation for safer, brighter futures, Lotus Village organizers sought to provide a nurturing home for these children and their mothers.
Yet, with no public funding available for the acquisition, development and construction of Lotus Village, they were challenged to bring together leaders in business, finance, philanthropy, construction, nonprofits and the community to make the facility a reality.
With philanthropic commitments from a host of community leaders, vendors, suppliers and subcontractors stepped up to enrich the building and outfitting of Lotus Village, followed by volunteers from across the community who dedicated over 10,000 hours helping clean, set up and move into the new facility.
Lotus Village today is a model shelter offering women and children experiencing homelessness the dignity, sanctuary, education, tools, resources and deep protective factors that address the gender-specific needs of women, and put children first.
“We offer a model in which community and collaboration are embedded in every facet of our success, recognizing that the solutions to complex social problems of our time are found in our coming together,” Lotus House President Constance Collins says. “We do not wait for others to lead; we lead. We, all of us, are the solution to ending and preventing homelessness in our country.”