Housing experiences of families with children living in poor and overcrowded housing in Korea

Abstract

Abstract This study examined housing experiences of children living in poor and overcrowded housing. By doing so, the researchers attempted to introduce study results to the public and proposed to enhance social support for children in poor housing. Data were collected by in-depth interviews with 10 families living below the minimum housing standards, and participants were interviewed twice between February and August in 2018. Four main themes were found as a result of qualitative analysis: threats to children’s safety and health, deprivation on children’s emotional development, limitations to form stable social relationships and opportunities for and barriers to changing housing environment. The findings show that children living in poor and overcrowded housing suffer from deprivation of safe and healthy life and are disadvantaged from emotional and psychological development and social relationships. While dealing with severe housing deprivation and stressful life, participants were unable to move to better houses due to financial problems. The findings of this study suggest that children’s housing rights should be systemically guaranteed and more proactive housing support is needed for the sake of children and families in housing poverty.