Housing Supply Research Articles

Equitable post-COVID-19 housing delivery: A practical framework to integrate sustainable development goals in Malaysia’s low-cost housing provision

Studies show that the COVID-19 crisis may threaten to attain sustainable development goals connected with shelter in developing countries, including Malaysia. Low-cost housing provision has been identified as one tool for achieving sustainability goals via synergistic operations. However, studies about post-COVID-19 housing and sustainable development goals integration are scarce in Malaysia. The study investigated the state of post-COVID-19 housing and developed a framework to integrate Goals in housing provision in Malaysia. The study covered four major cities in Malaysia via qualitative research to achieve the study’s objectives. The researchers engaged forty participants via semi-structured virtual interviews, and saturation was achieved. The study utilized a thematic analysis for the collated data and honed them with secondary sources. Findings show that COVID-19 reduced the possibility of low-income earners becoming homeowners. This is because the low-income groups were real losers of COVID-19 economic changes. Also, findings reveal that achieving four Goals from the 17 Goals will improve housing provision in Malaysia’s post-COVID-19 era. The study encourages key housing stakeholders to improve housing delivery, especially for the low-income earners across Malaysia in the post-COVID-19 era. This will imply contributing to achieving four Goals because of the correlation, as part of the study’s implications.

Decoding the puzzle: exploring the factors influencing homeownership in Togo

Purpose This study aims to analyze the factors influencing households housing tenure choices in Togo. Design/methodology/approach The authors applied a rigorous econometric approach, using Harmonized Household Living Conditions Survey (EHCVM) data from 2018 and 2021 to construct a longitudinal panel, and Unified Basic Welfare Indicators Questionnaire (QUIBB) data from 2006, 2011 and 2015 to construct a pseudo-panel. Findings The study reveals that a household’s life-cycle variables like age of the household head, marital status, household size and place of residence, have a significant influence on homeownership. In addition, households in the highest wealth quartiles and used heads of household are more likely to own their home. Research limitations/implications Housing policies focused on improving the financial sustainability of low-income households and reducing the transaction costs associated with property acquisition are essential to promoting homeownership. Practical implications As part of the implementation of the Government Roadmap 2020–2025, the government has committed to providing 20,000 affordable social housing units, aiming to significantly boost the supply of decent housing. However, the findings of this study highlight the need for targeted subsidy programs for low-income households, particularly for female-headed households and those living in urban areas. These subsidies could cover part of the cost of purchasing homes. For middle-income households, it is crucial to develop suitable financing mechanisms, such as low-interest mortgages and loan guarantees. Given demographic pressures and the high cost of public housing programs, promoting self-build remains essential. This support should be accompanied by the provision of low-cost building materials and technical training in innovative, sustainable construction methods. Additionally, improved access to employment and land regularization are essential prerequisites for the success of these initiatives. Originality/value Research on the determinants of tenure choice is relatively limited in sub-Saharan Africa due to the unavailability of housing survey data. This paper proposes a case study of Togo, whose housing market characteristics correspond to most sub-Saharan African countries. Furthermore, this study applied two methodological approaches commonly used in dynamic analyses, thereby enhancing the robustness of the findings.

Housing-Resources Spatial Mismatch Investigation of Affordable Housing and Policy Implementation: A Case Study from Hangzhou, China

Intensive spatial transformation and restructuring in China these years has brought the separation of residence-job, so as to residence-public services, which adversely affects people’s access and enjoyment of job and public service resources, especially for the disadvantaged populations with limited choice of residence location and insufficient access to those resources. The residents of affordable housing are among the typical disadvantaged populations under the existing affordable housing policy in China. Residence-job separation of affordable housing residents has been paid much attention in literature, but no specific study has been conducted on the residence-public services separation and the behavioral responses of the residents. Spatial mismatch theory was originally put forward to reveal the adverse labor market outcome brought about by residence-job separation, and nowadays some scholars have tried to extend the residence-job spatial mismatch to residence-other resource spatial mismatch. This research responds to both the dilemma facing by the disadvantaged affordable housing residents and the extension trend of spatial mismatch theory. By applying the spatial mismatch theory and taking several affordable housing communities of Hangzhou as examples, the study explore the problems existing in affordable housing in commuting, employment, public service and residents' behavior response. The results found that the current affordable housing policy has led to an increase in commuting costs, a decrease in employment accessibility and welfare, a decrease in accessibility and satisfaction of public services, and disruptive behavior in the affordable housing market. These problems are mainly caused by remote layout and single supply, unreasonable allocation methods, difficulty in exchanging housing units and inadequate supervision of undesirable behaviors. To alleviate the spatial mismatch between housing and resources in Hangzhou, policy suggestions could be considered from four aspects: housing layout and supply, allocation methods, housing exchange and supervision.

Mediating role of social disengagement and loneliness in the nexus between functional health and mental well-being in older individuals

Few studies have focused sufficiently on the intricate link between functional health and depression among older people aged 60 and above in India. Therefore, the current study investigates the association between functional health and depression among older Indian adults through the mediating role of social disengagement and loneliness and the moderating role of living arrangements using recent data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI: 2017–2018). Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form (CIDI-SF) for depression, the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) for functional health, and the indoor/outdoor activities, visits, and religious events for social disengagement were used. The feelings of loneliness and living arrangements were measured using single-item questions and surveys/interviews of household members. Bivariate analysis, logistic regression, and a Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Model were adopted. The results show that older persons with functional health had 1.85 times higher odds of depression; similarly, those not engaging in social activities and experiencing loneliness were more likely to feel depressed. Living with someone was negatively linked to depression. A significant moderation by living arrangements in the functional health-depression relationship was also observed. The results also indicate significant mediating roles of social disengagement and loneliness, with 22.0% and 3.08% mediation effects, respectively. Therefore, this study recommends the provision of housing and social interaction among older people.

Calculating the system-wide supply impacts of social housing estate renewal: new measures and methods

Estate renewal has come to be touted as a means of improving social housing supply both qualitatively and quantitatively, replacing ageing and under-maintained dwellings and increasing the total stock of social housing. In this paper, we examine the latter claim. We develop novel measures and methods for calculating the social housing supply impacts of estate renewal, taking account of the reduction in supply caused by tenant relocations and dwelling demolitions prior to the delivery of new social housing. Using administrative data on tenant relocations and dwelling completions for three projects in Sydney, we calculate the social housing accommodation deficit caused by the renewal process, subsequently, the time required for each project to deliver more nights of accommodation than this deficit. These measures illuminate the significant impacts of estate renewal on the social housing system and problematize its justification based on gross or net social housing supply. They constitute a valuable method for examining estate renewal, wherever it may occur.

FRICTIONAL SORTING: THE IMPACTS OF DUAL CONSTRAINTS ON MOBILITY AND HOUSING SUPPLY IN CHINA

AbstractUsing an equilibrium sorting model and microdata from China, we evaluate the impacts of dual constraints on mobility and housing supply on workers’ sorting behavior, quantifying the welfare and distributional consequences. Counterfactual simulations show that lowering migration costs associated with institutional restrictions and migrant‐specific amenities would increase welfare and reduce inequality by moving workers from inland to coastal regions in China. These impacts depend on the housing supply elasticity in coastal regions. Similarly, the impacts of relaxing housing supply restrictions depend on mobility constraints. Results highlight the policy complementarities between reducing the two kinds of frictions.

The supply elasticity and housing price bubbles in New South Wales, Australia

AbstractIn this study, we use a supply and demand model to estimate housing supply elasticity in New South Wales Australia based on yearly data for the 126 local government areas from 1991 to 2019, and investigate effects of supply elasticity on responses of housing prices and new constructions to housing price bubbles from 2002 to 2004. In particular, when conducting supply elasticity estimation, we use multi‐factor error structures to address cross‐sectional dependence issues, which is ignored by previous studies. We find that the supply elasticity estimates are statistically significant at the state level (0.36), in the regional coastal area (0.97) and in the regional inland area (0.41 but can be inconsistent and inefficient due to cross‐sectional dependence), while perfectly inelastic in the metropolitan area. Effects of supply elasticity on the market responses to bubbles are largely affected by market heterogeneity such as overall supply elasticity levels and demand degrees. The findings may compensate for the limitations of the theory in Glaeser et al. (2008, J Urban Econ, 64:198–217) and offer potential avenues for future development of the theory. Our results implies that bubbles promote development in elastic areas of the metropolitan market and inelastic areas of the regional coastal market, and that balancing urban and regional development is important for dealing with bubble‐related affordability issues.

P2TP2A Banda Aceh's Efforts in Developing Victims of Child Sexual Violence

The child is the successor of the generation, the most important component of society for the family, religion, and nation. Sexual violence is a treatment that occurs through unwarranted coercion, causing psychological pressure or physical injury to the person who suffers it. If we want a better future for children, then every child needs good maintenance and education. Therefore, pusat pelayanan terpadu pemberdayaan perempuan dan anak (P2TP2A) is an institution that has authority over issues related to the deprivation of the rights of women and children. In 2020, Aceh was ranked ninth in the province of sexual violence against children in Indonesia, which in the previous year was ranked sixteenth. Related to regulation, Aceh has Qanun number 9 of 2019 on Child Protection in the implementation of violence handling and qanun Jinayah number 6 of 2014 as the basis for making decisions on cases of violence against children. The purpose of this study was to determine what efforts are made by P2TP2A in coaching victims of sexual violence against children. This study used a qualitative approach while applying observation, interviews, and literature review by collecting data from research, articles, news, or relevant sources. The subjects of this study were staff members of P2TP2A Banda Aceh. The results showed that the coaching efforts undertaken by P2TP2A Banda Aceh City are carried out through three stages, namely recording, identification of interventions, and service delivery. Services provided include health care, counseling, legal services, provision of safe housing, and social rehabilitation. The obstacles faced are budget problems and support from the community. The benefit of conducting this research is to see what efforts are being made by P2TP2A Banda Aceh towards sexual violence against women and children and what efforts are being made by the government, including P2TP2A Banda Aceh in the process of controlling the protection of women and children.

Zoning’s treatment of housing: Analysis from a nationwide sample of places

ABSTRACT Advocates of increased housing supply and affordability in the United States have targeted zoning regulations as drivers of housing cost growth, but they lack an understanding of the prevalence and geographical distribution of different types of zoning regulations because few efforts exist to compile zoning data across localities. This study measures the amount of land allocated to different housing types in a random, stratified sample of 90 places of over 10,000 residents across the U.S. Despite our exclusion of smaller communities, we find that variations of single-family zoning are more than three times as common as zoning for three or more units per lot. We also analyze socio-demographic, built environment, and political characteristics of the sampled places in relation to their zoning practices, finding few relationships between place-level characteristics and the shares of land dedicated to different housing types. Our results from a national sample suggest significant variation in zoning practices relative to local demographic characteristics and point to the importance of understanding zoning practices and paths for reform in their local and regional contexts.

Promoting sustainable communities through affordable housing. A case study of Beirut, Lebanon

Promoting sustainable communities aims at creating both environmentally and socially responsible living environments. This paper explores the role of affordable housing in promoting the long-term sustainability of a community within healthy living conditions by closely examining the relationship between affordable housing, urban development policies, and sustainability, with the capital of Lebanon, Beirut, serving as a case study. The first part of the paper focuses on the current building laws issued in the official newspaper in 2004 using a content analysis methodology to demonstrate the impact of the changes in the laws on the new morphology and social fabric of the city through the creation of a favorable environment for big developers, wealthy property owners, and real estate agencies and, at the expense of old city residents and low-income families. The second part of the paper uses the qualitative analysis methodology to justify the presence of large unused stock of residential units in Beirut, referring to information from multiple data sources selected based on their applicability to sustainable development, affordable housing, and urban planning in areas related to the case study, Beirut. This part then investigates the potential presented by this stock of residential units in Beirut to increase the supply of affordable housing and foster a sustainable community. This paper argues that the promoted vertical expansion of the city weighs heavily on the environment and fails to provide a diverse mix of housing units, excluding a significant portion of the community from the city. Alternative development models aligning with principles of sustainable development and challenging the current building laws can promote social inclusivity, reduce urban sprawl, and minimize environmental impacts associated with new constructions, thus preserving the city’s physical and social fabric.

Homes Heat Health protocol: an observational cohort study measuring the effect of summer temperatures on sleep quality

IntroductionQuality sleep is essential to our health and well-being. Summertime temperatures in the bedrooms of homes in temperate climates are increasing, especially in city apartments. There is very little empirical...

Low-barrier harm reduction and housing for older people in Vancouver’s opiate crisis: meeting people where they are

Drawing on recent case-study data, this article explores innovative practices around harm reduction and housing for older people who use drugs. Although right-wing groups call for further criminalisation of drug use, in light of extraordinarily high levels of deaths from opioid overdose in Vancouver, Canada, the provincial government has quietly permitted the development of safe supply, the testing of illegal drugs to avoid poisonings and the provision of low-barrier, inclusive and supportive social housing, including housing specifically for older people. Drawing on crisis theory, the article analyses the provision of low-barrier harm reduction services for this marginalised and highly vulnerable group of older people and reflects on what we can learn about providing supports that are needs based and strengths based and embody meeting people where they are.

Exploring inhibiting factors to affordable housing provision in Lagos metropolitan city, Nigeria

Different inhibiting factors have affected the need for affordable housing provisions to keep pace with the increase in urbanisation and population growth, leading to the non-availability of desirable, affordable housing goals for low-income earners. Unfortunately, these inhibiting factors continue to create challenges that affect affordable housing development for low-income earners. Hence, this study examines the inhibiting factors affecting affordable housing provisions using Lagos metropolitan city, Nigeria, as a case study exemplar. A quantitative research design was employed, using the survey to collect data from the target populations of low-income earners in Lagos, Nigeria, through a purposive sampling technique with a high response rate of 75.3%. Descriptive and exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the retrieved data and Cronbach’s alpha test to determine data reliability and interrelatedness. Thirty-seven identified inhibiting factors of affordable housing provisions were clustered into seven components: problems with affordable land and security of tenure; socioeconomic constraints; problems with conventional materials and technologies; unpredictable internal factors; absence of innovative framework and supply chain; absent of community collaboration and external economic factors; and urbanisation factors. The implications of the study findings provide a better understanding of land tenureship, improved social inclusion, community-based stakeholder collaboration, standardisation of indigenous construction materials and technologies utilisation, and housing policy reforms to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing delivery in metropolitan cities. The study recommends successful implementations of affordable housing provisions hinged on an innovative housing framework and affordable supply chain through design, standardisation of non-conventional materials and technologies utilisation and social inclusion. The study’s conclusion gives housing stakeholders, realtors, policymakers, and government agencies the ability to understand and implement strategies to overcome socioeconomic constraints, land security of tenure, and urbanisation factors to predict and improve affordable housing demand and supply in metropolitan cities.

Mortgage lending as a tool for socio-economic development in the Arctic zone

The problem of housing provision occupies an important place in the socioeconomic development of the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. Mortgage lending with government support is a key financial instrument in this context. To support the population of the Arctic region, the influx of new personnel and the development of the construction industry in the Arctic, in December 2023 in the Russian Federation launched a new preferential programme «Arctic Mortgage», under which the residents of the Arctic region will be able to buy housing and improve their standard of living. The article presents an overview of the mortgage lending market in Russia for the period from 2019 to 2023: it analyses the dynamics of the number of credit institutions, changes in the weighted average rate on mortgage loans, as well as the share of preferential mortgages in the specified period of time. The factors influencing the volume and development of the mortgage lending market are highlighted, and the main reasons for the use of government-backed mortgage loans are identified. The current state of the mortgage lending sector is analysed in the context of the current economic situation. All these data are borrowed from the materials of the websites of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Association of Banks of Russia and other statistical reports placed in the public domain on the Internet. However, they have not previously been published in scientific publications.

Private rental housing market in Ethiopia: Aspirations and challenges

The private rental accommodation is a significant contributor to urban housing supply and is densely populated. Despite its prevalence, it has not received much attention in academic discussions. The rental housing market is like a double-edged sword, with both positive and negative aspects. Researchers have identified it as a problematic housing type that requires further investigation and intervention. A mixed research approach was employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 384 samples to understand the rental housing market better. The study found that the regulatory and interactional aspects of the private rental housing market have contributed to its problematic features. Although the market positively impacts housing shortages, private rental a source of unsuitable accommodation. To address these issues, the authors recommend regulatory and interactional dimensions of the private rental housing market be addressed through formal intervention and legislation.

Mortgage Financing and Affordable Housing Nexus: Evidence from Developing Countries

The study investigated the relationship between mortgage financing and affordable housing in Kumasi, Ghana. It explores how mortgage financing influences affordable housing supply. It identified 23 banking institutions of which 11 of them are into mortgage financing. Adopting the exploratory sequential mixed method research design, the study selected banks households and, realtors as respondents using both purposive and accidental sampling techniques. The study found that, in Kumasi and Ghana, housing is affordable on paper but very expensive on the ground as none of the houses supplied on affordable housing projects are affordable to middle- and low-income earners. The study acknowledged that the high level of LtVR has made mortgage financing very expensive to ordinary Ghanaians and such calls for government-insured mortgages to make housing supply less expensive. It found that the ANOVA results from a regression analysis with a multiple R of 0.240 and R square of 0.058 shows that only 5.8% of the total mortgage lending rates are influenced by the interest rate pegged by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and hence there is a very weak relationship between interest rate and mortgage lending rate in Ghana. The study concludes based on the findings that in Kumasi and Ghana, housing units that are supplied using mortgage financing by the government realtors are more expensive than those built by private estate developers with or without mortgages. Hence a complete reform of the mortgage policy to include government-insured mortgages to make the secondary mortgage market attractive was recommended.

A Review of Adequate Residential Housing Provision for Enhanced Occupants’ Work Performance

Adequate housing provision for the workforce ensures their maximum contribution to the fulfilment of the organisational goals and objectives; it ensures the comfort and security of the workers, thereby enhancing their work ethics, which results in increased efficiency and enhanced overall productivity. Housing is an essential contributor to a man's quality of life, as people spend a significant portion of their lives in their residential homes. Hence, the adequacy of residential housing has a significant influence on the occupants’ quality of life and work output. Therefore, it is important to improve the quality of residential housing to the satisfaction of the occupant. Thus, this study aims to present a literature review on the provision of adequate housing to increase workers' performance. Several literature sources are used to identify related studies that shed light on the relationship between adequate housing and occupant workers' productivity. The study revealed the conceptual dimensions of residential housing adequacy and occupants’ work performance, which include the physical conditions of the house, the suitability of facilities in the house for its occupants, and the affordability of the house in terms of occupation. The study further revealed that good quality and appropriate facilities in a house are essential for the occupant's physical and mental well-being, whereas unhealthy homes can negatively affect the occupant's work performance and overall productivity. Therefore, to improve home dwellers' work performance, stakeholders like owners, architects, estate managers, urban planners, builders, and construction engineers should prioritise the occupants' general well-being and implement housing systems that promote high performance.

“HOUSING POLICY” AND PROVISION OF HOUSING SERVICES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Housing markets and housing policies are in an interdependent relationship with each other. On the one hand, housing markets can be seen as an outcome of housing policy frameworks and long-term housing policies. On the other hand, changes in the housing market provoke new housing policies and force the revision of existing housing policy instruments. This study examines the general challenges and specific problems of housing provision in the developed world. It includes a review and a classification of housing policy instruments, as well as trends in current reforms. The article briefly describes the world practice of housing and communal services management. The management of this component of social quality of life in economically developed countries is assessed and recommendations for Ukraine are developed. The differences and peculiarities of management in this sphere are revealed, including those related to the degree of participation of the state and private sector in making management decisions. The study applies a methodological approach to the study of the world practice of housing and communal services management using the analytical method.

The Analysis of Spatial Relationship between One-person Households and Small Housing Supplies

The Analysis of Spatial Relationship between One-person Households and Small Housing Supplies

서울 아파트 가격의 변동 분석

During President Moon’s 5-year term, housing prices in Seoul increased by 62%, leading to widespread public uproar and ultimately his removal from office. Many factors have been proposed as potential explanations including speculation, the pandemic, excessive global liquidity, household debt, insufficient housing supply, and the government’s frequent policy interventions in the market. We simulate the impact of government factors on housing prices, considering them as exogenous variables (regime factor) and endogenous variables (policy interventions). In addition to the pandemic-induced price hike, most price increases under the Moon administration can be attributed to government factors. In May 2022, the conservative government succeeded the Moon government, leading to a rapid mean reversion of the house price to the long-run price.