Housing Standards Research Articles

Suicidal ideation and attempt among young people living in gosiwons in South Korea.

Young people living in gosiwons could be at high risk for suicide owing to inadequate living conditions and the social stigma towards them. However, this topic has not received adequate academic attention. Gosiwon is a type of small residence consisting of several tiny rooms densely packed together and usually does not meet minimum housing standards. However, gosiwons are favored by low-income groups, especially young people, because they are cheaper than other residences. This study aimed to examine the factors that increase the risk of suicidal ideation and attempt among young people living in gosiwons. A sample of 300 young people aged 19-34 years living in gosiwons for over 6 months was analyzed. A set of multinomial logistic regression was conducted to examine the factors that differentiate the suicidal ideation and attempt group from the no-suicidal risk group. Approximately 30% of the study participants experienced suicidal ideation or attempted suicide. Among several risk factors, social exclusion and depressive symptoms distinguished the group with suicidal ideation from the no-risk group. Depressive symptoms were the only factor that differentiated the group with suicide attempts history from the no-risk group. The results emphasize the need to focus on social exclusion and depressive symptoms among young people living in poor housing conditions. Interventions to address social exclusion and depressive symptoms may help prevent suicide risk among young people exposed to housing exclusion.

Deficiencies in livestock holdings with respect to animal welfare identified as part of cross-compliance checks completed in 2016–2020 in the Czech Republic

Cross-compliance checks are a tool of the Common Agricultural Policy to promote agri-environmental objectives relating to the environment, animal welfare, and food safety. This mechanism consists of paying direct subsidies to farmers who comply with prescribed requirements. Compliance with animal welfare requirements in the Czech Republic is supervised by the State Veterinary Administration. This study aimed to find the main deficiencies identified as part of cross-compliance checks and to assess the trends of the most frequent defects during the period under review, i.e. 2016–2020. The data for the analysis were received from the Central Veterinary Administration of the State Veterinary Administration and included the results of 2,031 checks carried out. Shortcomings were found in 14.52% of cases. Detailed analysis showed that significantly (P < 0.05) the highest frequency of violations was found in the areas of ‘nutrition and watering’ (294; 29.85%) and ‘spatial requirements’ (274; 27.82%). Based on the evaluation of trends, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the frequency of violations in the field of compliance with holder duties and animal hygiene standards of animals was detected. The results of this work show that animal welfare is continuously improving on farms. However, the aim should be to reduce deficiencies to a minimum for all indicators. In view of the results of this study, it is necessary to focus primarily on improving the quality of nutrition, providing better housing standards with emphasis on space and equipment used, and intensifying daily checks of animals.

Fleksibilnost u savremenom stanovanju - komparativna analiza stambenog objekta na Vračaru i stambenog kompleksa u Velikoj Remeti

This paper presents two examples of recently completed residential buildings in Belgrade and Velika Remeta (Irig Municipality). These buildings exemplify how flexibility is applied in contemporary housing designs in line with users' needs. The urban and architectural composition reflects a design approach considering contextual constraints and form-functional requirements to achieve an optimal housing standard. The implementation of the flexibility concept in the selected examples is considered in the design phase: (1) in the first example, flexibility refers to the use of the entire structure, not just the apartment unit, and (2) in the second example, flexibility is applied in the conceptual phase of the design process through the offer of seven variant types of the same design.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ КАЧЕСТВА ПРЕДОСТАВЛЕНИЯ ЖИЛИЩНО-КОММУНАЛЬНЫХ УСЛУГ НАСЕЛЕНИЮ РЕГИОНА (НА ПРИМЕРЕ РЕСПУБЛИКЕ ТАТАРСТАН)

The housing and communal services system is a key element of local infrastructure. Unlike other socially significant areas, the standards and volume of provided housing and communal services cannot be worse than established standards, as this may lead to a deterioration in the living conditions of the population. At the same time, progress in this area directly contributes to the efficiency of the production segment and the economic well-being of the region. Thus, the organization, current state and development strategies of housing and communal services are currently characterized by particular importance, having a significant impact on the country’s economy. Increasing the standards of housing and communal services and introducing advanced technologies in this area are significant factors in improving the quality of life, living conditions and the development of society. The object of the study is the quality of provision of housing and communal services to the population. The purpose of the study is to determine areas for improving the quality of housing and communal services in the Republic of Tatarstan. Research methods include analysis and synthesis, research of economic and legal documents, abstract-logical, statistical, tabular and graphical constructions. The scientific novelty of the research is the characteristics of the main problems in the provision of housing and communal services, the formulation of measures aimed at improving the quality of housing and communal services in the Republic of Tatarstan, the forecast of the expected results of the implementation of these measures.

A Parametric Approach for Optimizing Design Solutions in Urban Regeneration and Reshaping: An Application to a District Block in Bologna, Italy

This paper addresses the deep renovation and enhancement of energy efficiency in existing urban areas, aiming to transform them into zero energy districts, utilizing renewable sources. This transformative process is essential to align with contemporary models for new buildings and to elevate existing structures to meet environmental housing standards mandated by current regulations. The proposed densification strategy is motivated by the necessity to augment the real estate value and enhance the architectural and performance quality of the existing building stock, all while minimizing additional land occupation. Its efficacy has been rigorously tested and demonstrated within the European Horizon 2020 project “ABRACADABRA”. The key actions advocated for in this approach revolve around the incorporation of renewable energies, volumetric expansion, and completion volumes (urban infill), within the Positive Energy District. The validation of this process occurs on a district scale in a social housing urban block located in Bologna (Italy), with currently poor environmental performance. A multi-criteria analysis was employed to examine the architectural, climatic, and energy context. The meta-design phase successfully attained the energy and economic targets set by the project and by local and European regulations settings, offering an optimized design solutions for reshaping the built environment.

쪽방의 개념 재정의와 실증적 탐색

The aim of this paper is to redefine the concept of ‘conventional subdivided-units’ and identify households living in the revised subdivided-units using empirical data. The term ‘subdivided-units’ with low-end small rental often has been used in policy language in official documents so far but it has yet to be formulated. In this paper, considering objectification and measurability, the “subdivision-shaped units” that modified the ‘conventional subdivided-units’ was defined as “dwelling where the area of indoor space used by a household for residential uses is less than 7㎡ or those units that are not self-contained.
 Empirical results show that about 210,000 households reside in the subdivision-shaped units as modified subdivided-units and 46.6% of them live in types similar to conventional subdivided-units (on a monthly rent basis with no-deposit and costing less than 300,000 won per month). The most similar to the overall characteristics of conventional subdivided-units were Gosiwon accommodations or lodgings. In light of recent global discourses, the subdivision-shaped units can be regarded as informal housing in Korean context. Although it is a cheap alternative for the vulnerable who have been priced out of formal housing, it continuously poses a health and safety threat to tenants. For more improvements, it is necessary to establish a reliable data infrastructure that can catch up with the real figures in terms of hiddenness <privacy>>, diversity, and complicated hybridity. Based on such data, adequate housing standards should be made into rules in the national policy-level.

Housing Experimentation and Design Guides: Affordable Housing in Guangzhou since 2006

This paper examines the recent growth of government-led affordable housing in Guangzhou, addressing a paucity of global housing studies that explore experimental and contextual policy approaches in China. It also addresses the lack of Chinese housing studies recognizing the impact of housing design governance, including regulatory controls and design standards, on housing preferences, supply and lifestyles. Since 1995, the supply of affordable housing has surged, now surpassing that of market housing for the first time. This response to failures in the private housing market and a lack of equitable access to housing signifies a significant shift, acknowledging the need to re-establish a state-led and long-term public housing supply after decades of housing marketization. Employing an architectural design research perspective, this paper investigates the interplay between affordable housing supply and the emergence of housing standards, examining resulting housing design outcomes. It poses the question: What changes in housing policy and interventions in housing markets are necessary to increase public rental housing supply, and how do these changes affect housing outcomes? The paper explores these questions through a discussion of the key moments in affordable housing policy and housing estate development in Guangzhou that facilitated the creation of widely accessible public housing and long-term housing assets. This provides new insights into China’s unique approach to translating central government social welfare and housing policy through contextual design experimentation and pilot housing projects, departing from the conventional top-down policy implementation found in most other countries.

A multi-city study of indoor air quality in green vs non-green low-income housing

ObjectivesThe condition of the home is a strong predictor of exposure to environmental contaminants, with low-income households being particularly vulnerable. Therefore, improving housing standards is a priority. Housing built to “green” standards, with improved building methods and materials, has been suggested to reduce contaminants. However, evidence is limited as to which contaminants are reduced. The Green Housing Study was conducted to address this issue. The study hypothesis was that housing built using green components has lower concentrations of environmental contaminants compared to conventional housing. MethodsA repeated-measures, 12-month cohort study was performed in three U.S. cities. Data were collected in the home at three time points throughout a year. The level of contaminants were estimated using air samples for particulate matter and black carbon, dust samples for aeroallergens and pesticides, and resident or study staff reporting evidence of mold. To investigate source(s) of PM2.5 and black carbon, multivariable models using stepwise variable selection were developed. ResultsIn adjusted generalized estimating equations (GEE) models, black carbon concentration (μg/m3) (β = −0.22, 95% CI = −0.38 to −0.06, p = 0.01), permethrin (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.15–0.49, p < 0.0001), and reported mold (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.13–0.68, p = 0.003) were significantly lower in green homes. Cockroach antigen was also lower in green homes (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.33–1.08, p = 0.09), although not statistically significant. We found that 68% of PM2.5 was explained by dwelling type and smoking and 42% of black carbon was explained by venting while cooking and use of a gas stove. ConclusionsThis study provides quantitative data suggesting benefits of incorporating green building practices on the level of numerous environmental contaminants known to be associated with health. Occupant behavior, particularly smoking, is an important contributor to indoor air pollution.

A Study on Recommendations for Improving Minimum Housing Standards

Minimum housing standards aim to safeguard housing rights and enhance residential conditions. Governments develop housing policies, including provision, preservation, and support for welfare programs, guided by the status of households below these standards. Growing nations commonly utilize this approach to decrease the proportion of households not meeting these criteria. In South Korea, the ratio of households below these standards was 4.5% in 2021, down from 16.6% in 2006, as indicated by the initial Korea Housing Survey. However, this downward trend has stalled over the past decade. With the 2004 and 2011 revisions, the standards have been effective for 12 years, yet no longer mirror current housing realities due to ongoing improvements. This study aimed to propose enhancements to Korea’s minimum housing standards. Through analyzing laws, prior research, present household statuses, international cases, and expert insights, recommendations emerged. Categorizing households by size, we developed precise standards covering area, facility, and location aspects. These new standards led to an 8.4% non-compliance rate in 2021. This research’s findings anticipate aiding the revision of minimum housing standards, formulating pragmatic policies for enhancing residential conditions in line with present situations.

Urban upgrading of slums: Baghdad and London slums as study models for urban rehabilitation

This phenomenon of slums represents one of the most serious problems that Iraqi cities suffer from, especially the city of Baghdad, which has become teeming with a lot of slum buildings that have distorted most of its areas and neighborhoods. Most of the slums are in the form of scattered construction and chaotic gatherings that do not follow any planning standards. This paper aims to present and analyze the mechanisms of urban upgrading of two models of slums in the city of Baghdad and London. The treatment was through the urban development of these slums and the provision and improvement of services to reduce the phenomenon of total removal. The GIS program was used to calculate the urban variables and requirements, the optimal locations for services, and the total and partial removal percentages. The research achieved the lowest percentage of total and partial removal of the actual areas, which amounted to 7.31% in the first model and 14.26% in the second model. The slum area was also provided with all the necessary services in accordance with the urban housing standards specific to each city, to turn it into a residential neighborhood instead of calling it a slum region.

Post-Handover Housing Quality Management and Standards in Korea

Housing quality is a subject of dispute worldwide, and these disputes are increasing due to the significant differences in the views of producers and consumers on quality standards. To arbitrate disputes, an objective evaluation of housing quality is necessary. In Korea, disputes over housing quality in the post-handover stage result in lawsuits, thus becoming a social issue. This study analyzed the results of lawsuits against housing complexes in Korea. The ratio of defect repair cost to construction cost (DRCCC) was adopted as an indicator, and the quality level of the building was evaluated using a control chart to select failures. The findings showed that there were more cases where the construction cost was small, the housing quality was poor, the deviation was wide, and the quality defect exceeded the limit level of the control chart. To improve housing quality, it is necessary to strengthen quality management, to control the quality within the management limit, and to adjust standards by reflecting the consumer’s viewpoint.

주거여건이 삶의 만족도에 미치는 영향

This study examined the effects of housing characteristics on life satisfaction across different age groups. Prior research has primarily focused on specific population groups (elderly, disabled, single-person households, etc.) or a handful of housing characteristics. These studies do not account for differences in the effects of housing characteristics on life satisfaction. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of three housing characteristics on life satisfaction across age groups: housing tenure, housing quality, and housing affordability.&#x0D; This study found that only housing quality influences life satisfaction among young adults, whereas both housing quality and tenure affect life satisfaction among middle-aged individuals. In addition to housing quality and tenure, housing affordability also affects the life satisfaction of the elderly. These results indicate that the importance of housing increases with age and suggest that age-appropriate housing policies should be implemented. Particularly, because housing tenure affects the life satisfaction of middle-aged individuals, it is necessary to assist them in purchasing a house. In addition, because housing affordability affects the life satisfaction of the elderly, support is required to alleviate their housing cost burden. Finally, the quality of housing is important to the life satisfaction of individuals of all ages. Efforts should therefore be made to improve the quality of housing by enhancing housing and implementing minimum housing standards.

Bytový dům pro zemědělce: k procesu adaptace městských standardů bydlení v prostředí vesnických sídel

Housing construction in Czechoslovakia began to grow in the 1940s, which was reflected in the increased number of flats and improved housing standards. This growth was made possible mainly due to the construction of blocks of flats. Although in the countryside, in contrast to the cities, people predominantly lived in their own family houses, the construction of apartment blocks also contributed to the increase in capacity there. However, the experience from the 1940s and 1950s shows negative impacts of adopting the projects for blocks of flats which were designed for the city and the urban way of life and did not suit rural residents, who had different working patterns and needs. In the 1960s, an intensive dialogue between local participants, architects, and the authorities took place, leading to the adaptation of the apartment block concept to the needs of agricultural workers. The adaption concerned both the external appearance, which had to respect the village environment, and the internal layout. The adapted projects included separate rooms for residents to wash themselves after their return from fields and gardens, and storage compartments for foods and livestock feed. Attention was also paid to the surroundings, where buildings related to residents’ farming activities were designed (small animal breeding, working in the gardens and small fields). The willingness to conduct the dialogue and to adapt the projects for rural blocks of flats disappeared in the 1970s as a result of the normalization and gradual improvement in agricultural workers’ living standards.

Satisfaction of Livable House Assistance Recipients with the Implementation of the Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance Program

The house is one of the primary needs that must be met by Indonesian people who do not meet livable standards. One of the efforts to be carried out in the infrastructure section, aims so that people get a decent place to live. To realize having a livable house must be planned and prepared properly. This research is reviewed from the problem of many houses that do not yet have decent housing standards. The Government's Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance (BSPS) is intended to encourage and increase the self-sufficiency of low-income people in improving the quality of their homes, as seen from the quality of roofs, floors and walls of the house along with infrastructure, public facilities and facilities that meet health, safety, comfort requirements. and bathroom facilities. In the BSPS program as an alternative to poverty alleviation policies by providing direct material assistance for the housing construction process. Based on the intent of the BSPS program objectives according to the BSPS program implementation team in Indonesia, especially in Rembang Regency, the aim of the BSPS program is to improve the quality of life of low-income people to obtain livable housing. that most people respond well to the BSPS program in Japrejo Village and Sumberejo Village Recipients of the Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance Program (BSPS), however, it is not uncommon for people to refuse due to limited funds which are considered insufficient. Satisfaction of building recipients after receiving assistance from Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance (BSPS) in obtaining assistance. Construction/improvement of houses for low-income people to ensure their quality meets the livable requirements of the BSPS program where assessment is carried out in the Structural and Non-Structural sections according to the house criteria livable

Conditions on the Sustainable Housing of Foreign Workers: A Case Study of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea

This study examined the laws and policies on the provision of housing for foreign workers and the status of and problems with foreign workers’ accommodations in Gyeonggi province. This was undertaken to identify the fundamental reason for the recurring risks related to workers’ housing sustainability, such as accidents related to inadequate housing in rural areas. We first present a review of the relevant domestic laws and regulations on the construction and installation of foreign workers’ residential facilities in rural areas, as well as of the guidelines set by international organizations and the practices of other countries regarding the provision of workers’ housing. Then, we analyze the data from a survey of foreign workers’ residential facilities in Gyeonggi province using a classification of housing vulnerability to understand the current condition of foreign workers’ accommodations at the local level, including the distribution and conditions of foreign workers’ residential facilities and their compliance with the relevant laws and regulations. Comparing the principles for the provision of workers’ accommodations stipulated in Korean law with the criteria and requirements set forth by international organizations and other countries, it can be seen that Korean law is more focused on setting the minimum requirements for workers’ accommodations. In contrast, international standards for adequate housing and the standards for workers’ housing of other countries not only set minimum requirements but also consider various factors that can enhance the workers’ living environments and quality of life and guarantee equal treatment of foreign workers, including the demand for different types of housing, location, access to cultural facilities, and supplementary facilities. We classified the housing vulnerability of foreign workers’ residential facilities in Gyeonggi province based on their characteristics, such as the housing requirements stipulated by law, and on the degree of housing vulnerability regarding living conditions and accommodation facilities (washing/bathing facilities, electrical safety checks, etc.). As a result, the main problem is location, with 43% (800) of the workplaces violating the Farmland Act. In addition, 80% of the workplaces use containers or prefabricated panels (temporary buildings) as dormitories, which are in violation of the Building Act.

Commercial determinants of human rights: for-profit health care and housing.

Commercial determinants of human rights: for-profit health care and housing.

Qualifying Current Housing Standards in Iraq for Sustainability

Qualifying Current Housing Standards in Iraq for Sustainability

Assessment of the relationship between housing quality and income in urbanizing city of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

The study focused on the connection between the standard of housing and household income in Nigeria's Ado-Ekiti. The population of Ado-Ekiti is expanding and includes a wide range of socioeconomic categories. The study adopted a primary method of data collection, respondents who are landlords or the oldest tenants were selected randomly to give answers to 1500 structural questionnaires distributed in the study area, and a total of 1311 responses were obtained. The study was categorized into three zones: Urban Core, Transitional and Peri-phery. The variables and data were captured with statistical tables. The study found out that 62% of respondents in the Urban Core earn less than the minimum wage as against 9.05 in the Peri-phery. Also, in the Core Area, 37.3%, 40.0%, 34.6%, 32.2%, 32.9% and 47.5% of roof, windows, doors, walls, floors and ceilings respectively were bad. The hypothesis formulated is that there is no significant relationship between housing quality and income level. Using Pearson Product Correlation shows that r-value (0.530) is higher than the r-tabulated r-value (0.195), this indicates that there is a strong correlation between the quality of housing and residents' income levels. The study concluded that income level and fund availability will always affect the realization of good quality housing, the study recommended that strong government intervention in housing the urban poor must be improved; development agencies and private developers should go into funding building maintenance most especially at the urban core.

Inside an Urban House - A Cross Sectional Study on Urban Housing Standards

Introduction: Poor housing can increase the risk to people due to structurally deficient housing, poor construction or maintenance, can increase the chances of fall and risk of injuries. Indoor environment refers to the quality of air inside the dwelling. From different sources indoor air pollution can occur, mainly from inappropriate building materials can cause cracks, crevices, moulds and dust. Objective: To assess the housing standards in urban field practice area under Department of Community medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Tamaka, Kolar. Materials &amp; Methods: A community based cross-sectional study using universal sampling technique conducted in urban Kolar Karnataka. Among all households living for at least minimum of 1-year duration under Gandhi Nagar P.H.C urban field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, SDUMC, Kolar were approached and house to house survey was done. Interview was done to Head of the family or the most senior member available in the family on the survey day. The data was analysed by using licensed SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics like frequencies, proportions and confidence intervals were used. Chi-square test applied test the significance difference. Results: Among the 608 houses surveyed, 96.1% houses have independent access to street, 65.3% of houses are away from breeding places of flies,79.9% of houses are away from the nuisance such as smoke, smell excessive noise and traffic. Around half of the houses (48%) have obstruction to lighting and ventilation, 44.2% houses doesn’t have open space all around the house and 50.5% houses have overcrowding. Conclusion: Housing conditions in urban areas failed to meet the requirements for health with a substantial range of hazards present. Housing conditions have to improve on lighting, Ventilation, sewerage system, waste disposal and closing open drainages around the houses. Keywords: Housing, Housing standards, Urban

Australian rental housing standards: institutional shifts to reprioritize the housing–health nexus

ABSTRACT A large proportion of Australia’s housing stock offered for private rental or socially let is of poor quality, which has implications for residents’ health and well-being. This problem has arisen from historically weak regulation of housing standards and under-investment in public housing services, both features of Australia’s neoliberal housing regime. In this paper, we reviewed the institutional contexts of two policy settings used to address problems of housing quality: the Homes Act 2018 (UK) and the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act 2017 (Aotearoa–New Zealand). From these two case studies, five institutional shifts required to reprioritize the housing–health nexus in Australia were synthesized: (1) policy objectives should explicitly link housing conditions and health outcomes; (2) community awareness and sector advocacy should be harnessed to overcome complex structures of government; (3) policy approaches should foster collective social responsibility; (4) mandatory requirements should be made transparent and objective; and (5) robust protocols for tracking progress should be developed and applied.