Social Capacity in Policy Innovation for Urban Housing and Settlement Areas

Abstract

This article discusses how social capacity can have an essential role as the key to thriving urban housing and settlement policies. This study used a qualitative case study research method using semi-structured interviews as a data collection instrument. Interviews were conducted with ten informants from government and non-government elements. The result shows that social capacity consisting of values and beliefs, community participation, local culture and knowledge, cooperation and social networks, as well as local actors and resources, has an essential role as the key to the thriving urban housing and settlement area policy innovation in Serang Municipality, Indonesia. The main finding of this study is that urban housing and settlement areas and policy innovations have not yet been integrated with the primary service needs of urban communities. The research findings also indicate that although people hold strong values and beliefs such as religion, some people still live unhealthy life behavior. Furthermore, community participation and cooperation are still partial and haven't been ideal yet. Various efforts need to be continued to realize social capacity in the context of participation and cooperation. The continuity of various efforts is important because, based on the research results, people have cultural diversity and differences. This research is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the importance of social capacity in policy innovation for urban housing and settlement areas and offer alternative policy formulations for policymaking at the central and local government levels.