Project by Yufei Li
Shaped by successive waves of immigrants, Loisaida has long been defined by resilience, cultural continuity, and economic struggle. Despite strong community networks, persistent poverty remains difficult for many families to escape. Drawing from the Lower Manhattan Needs Assessment, this project responds to the main causal loop linking family income and resources, education, and employment—a cycle that reinforces intergenerational poverty by limiting access to opportunity. Housing is approached not as an isolated solution, but as part of a broader social framework that addresses these interconnected challenges. The project envisions housing as a continuum supporting the immigrant journey through temporary housing, shared services, and long-term residences. Programs such as childcare, employment centers, and educational spaces directly intervene in the income–education–employment cycle. Furniture exchange and resale programs, along with a maker studio and second-hand furniture store, respond to the transitory nature of short-term living, using everyday objects as catalysts for connection. A south-facing façade opens a central atrium, where pocket spaces further encourage gathering, exchange, and daily social interaction.
