This project involves the renovation of the Maycock Block (586 Main Street / 201-205 Alexander Avenue), in downtown Winnipeg, into permanent congregate housing with support services for episodic and chronically homeless women. Traditional shelters and housing for homeless people are being reevaluated and new initiatives for managing and ending homelessness are emerging. This practicum investigates the negative effects of high-control living environments enforced in typical homeless shelters, and how they might be mitigated through interior design. Through a review of literature and case studies, design considerations were developed to reflect the elements of home, as well as enable control within the built environment to promote self-restoration and encourage an internal sense of control. This investigation informed the design process and proposal of a user-sensitive environment for homeless women.