The Washington, DC Office of Victim Services has determined a need for transitional housing and support services for battered woman and their children for the first two years after they leave their residence. It is my assertion that for a family in transition a secure environment can be placed within proximity to their original place of residence. Residing in the neighborhood will empower the individual through the strength of her existing connections to the community while building a new support network.

My thesis seeks to discover how architecture can empower abused women to independence, building self esteem and stronger family units. Design principles were derived from research of the both the impact of domestic violence on women and historic examples of affordable housing. The design solution focused on three primary design principles: Security, Community and Individuality, a design integrating a two year program of support services within a courtyard building.