Lessons in Building Spaces that Work for People

Room 1060/1st Floor

In this interactive 75-minute session, through the lens of a grassroots-run program — operated in partnership with unhoused guests themselves — we’ll explore how short-term shelter can spark lasting change. Immersive group challenges will invite participants to design shelter from the guest’s perspective, grapple with real-world constraints, and co-create the wraparound and supportive services that can turn a temporary stay into a stepping stone toward stability. Symbolic objects at each table will stir reflection on welcome, access, and fairness. Together, we’ll weave these insights into a bold vision for housing systems grounded in dignity, trust, and human connection — the steady hands and open doors that help people heal, rebuild, and belong.

Presenters

Judy Lowery: Judy Lowery (she/her) is the cofounder of Dignity in Motion and the founder, coordinator & collaborator of Kalamazoo Together for the Unhoused. Spending nights on the streets doing mobile street outreach, she builds relationships with unhoused community members and then partners with them to design and run mutual aid sheltering projects rooted in dignity, trust, and shared leadership.  

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John Bueche: John Bueche (he/they) is a creative community builder with a background in broad engagement and progress through partnership. Originally from Saginaw, MI, John and family moved to Kalamazoo from Minneapolis in 2023.