Public Housing Management Research Articles

The emerging role of cooperatives in the management of public housing in Italy. Opportunities and limitations of the ”Valorization-alternative-to-sale” policy in Lombardy

ABSTRACT Many public housing units in Italy are vacant or in critical need of repair due to continuous political withdrawal and a structural lack of funds. To cover overheads with low rents – linked by law to the income of poor households – Italian public housing organizations and municipal authorities were turned into companies despite their welfare function and rely largely on the sale of properties to balance their budgets. In the context of protracted disinvestment in public housing, the paper adds to the growing body of research on cooperatives’ role in hybrid housing policies. By investigating the regional upscaling of a pioneering partnership in Milan, codified in the “Valorization-alternative-to-sale” law by the Lombardy regional government, we explore the opportunities and limitations of partnerships between public authorities and cooperatives for the management of public housing in alternative to the sale of the stock.

Is there a role for cooperative actors in the management of public housing? Hybrid partnerships as trojan horses for profit extraction or vehicle of housing commons: reflections on a pioneering project in Milan

After its expansionist phase in the XX Century, in most countries public housing has incurred in a state of long-term crisis that still lasts until today. With long-lasting disinvestment in the Italian public housing, many dwellings and buildings are vacant or in decay. Public housing companies yet rely heavily on dismissal and sales to cover high overheads and low rents. In this context, there has been sporadic experimentation of partnerships between public authorities and cooperative actors in enacting hybrid forms of management as an alternative to the sale of public assets. The article uses the case study of the Quattro Corti project in Milan and experts’ panels in four Italian cities to explore potential innovation pathways for public housing in different contexts and to identify opportunities and challenges of the involvement of cooperatives through partnerships for hybrid management. A main question is whether such partnerships may be trojan horses for profit-actors or vehicles of housing commons. The article contributes to the emerging literature on the role of cooperative actors in public and social housing policies.

Carceral connections: The role of policing in the management of public housing in New York City

Between 2006 and 2022, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) attempted to address the fiscal and infrastructural crises in public housing through a number of controversial privatisation strategies. This contested push occurred alongside the pervasive role of policing in public housing. The New York City Police Department utilises several policing strategies specific to NYCHA communities, collaborating with the housing authority in the management of public housing residents. This article draws on qualitative content analysis of local policing strategies and public housing policy reforms in New York City to investigate how the state facilitates the displacement of disproportionately poor, non-white, public housing tenants while simultaneously sponsoring privatised redevelopment in their communities in ways that mirror gentrification processes usually studied in private housing. I focus on the content of and linkages between public housing-specific policing strategies and privatising public housing redevelopment plans. By examining police as collaborators within public housing policy, I uncover the entanglement of law enforcement in urban development, as well as the underlying roles and relationships between the state, capital and police in contemporary urban development and gentrification. The findings illuminate the processes of carceral urbanism, where the logics of the carceral state emerge as priorities throughout the urban governance of the contemporary neoliberal state in general, and public housing policy reform in particular.

Implementation Of Public Housing Management Policy: A Case Study In Rusunawa Of Cimahi, West Java, Indonesia

Insufficient and affordable vertical housing (rusunawa) availability is still emerging as an alternative option for temporary residence for low-income individuals. Therefore, this study purposes to explore the implementation of Rusunawa management policies managed by local governments in Indonesia. The theoretical framework used to analyze policy implementation is based on Kearns and Lawson's (2008) concept, which examines four factors: 1) the policy itself, 2) implementing agencies, 3) inter-organizational relations, and 4) social and political factors. This research adopts a qualitative case study approach, focusing on three Rusunawa (vertical housing) facilities managed by the Cimahi Government. The data were collected within interviews with 18 respondents using purposeful sampling, employing open-ended questions complemented by observation and analysis of relevant documents. The implications of this research highlight the requirement for public rental housing management policies to consider the income criteria of prospective residents, rental period duration, and budget allocation for expanding the Rusunawa Public Service Unit (PSU), effective communication and information dissemination channels, and improved Rusunawa management practices. The findings underscore the socio-economic factors influencing the beneficiaries of general rental housing policies, along with the budgetary requirements for expanding the Rusunawa PSU, optimizing communication and information channels, and enhancing the overall management of Rusunawa facilities.

Modern Management Methods in the Area of Public Housing Resources in the Community

Real estate management is a complex process that consists of making or indicating decisions of both a tactical and strategic character. To ensure the realization of the tasks, real property owners need to adjust their services to respond to technological pressure, a dynamically changing market, and the demands of the customer, thus resulting in various innovations introduced by the owners in the process of the public housing management. A review of the subject literature was the source of the theoretical motivation to conduct the empirical research on the innovations implemented by property owners. The main objective of said research was to ascertain which innovations have been implemented by the entities that were owners of public property in the Częstochowa City Commune and how were they evaluated by the residents. A questionnaire survey was used to verify the hypotheses. Statistical analyses were also carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 package, which was used to analyze basic descriptive statistics, including the Shapiro–Wilk test, the Student’s t-test for independent samples, Spearman’s rho correlation analysis, Pearson’s r correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis. The research presented in this paper was conducted in the Q3 and Q4 of 2020 among the residents of the public housing in Częstochowa, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. The measurement tool used was a survey form. The survey itself was submitted by 444 respondents (n = 444). The results of the research made it possible to determine which innovations were implemented by the municipality in question and to what extent they were important or for the residents. The main finding of the survey is that residents of the municipal housing stock consider the innovations implemented by the municipality to be important.

주거정책의 지방화 전략: 공공임대주택을 중심으로

Since housing is a location-fixed property, the causes and solutions for housing problems in each region are inevitably different. Accordingly, since the 1990s, when the local autonomy system began, there has been continued discussions on the necessity of localizing housing policies. However, the central government still plays a leading role in the planning and implementation of housing policies, and the local governments play a supportive role. While focusing on the public rental housing policies, this paper aims to identify the obstacles deterring the localization of housing policies and to suggest practical implications for expanding the role of local governments in public housing policies. Through in-depth interviews with major stakeholders such as local governments and local public enterprises, this paper argues that the local government’s comprehensive housing plan should be strengthened in terms of its status and role. In the proposed new system, local governments establish public rental housing policies in consideration of individual local conditions. The central government should present budget allocation standards so that local governments can reduce the financial burden of the supply and management of public rental housing.

Developing an Intake Assessment for Domestic and Family Violence Supported Accommodation

ABSTRACT Domestic and family violence often results in women and children needing to find alternative safe housing and, on some occasions, this need to relocate may result in homelessness. Public housing and case management packages are scarce for women and children experiencing long-term homelessness caused by domestic and family violence. The research reported here led to the identification of criteria to enable the prioritisation of housing program resources to women and their children escaping domestic and family violence. A systematic search and scoping review were undertaken to identify social and wellbeing criteria to support intake assessment. The intake assessment criteria were then validated using a two-stage modified Delphi process with academic experts and domestic and family violence practitioner experts, expanding notions of “expert” in the use of the Delphi process. Differences between academic and practitioner expert contributions were identified. Specifically, the practitioner experts questioned the premise of the tool and identified the need for both temporal and geographic components to ensure the safety of the housing for the women and children. The innovative inclusion of expert practitioners in this study created buy-in and enabled social work practice expertise to inform the development of a DFV housing assessment tool. IMPLICATIONS There is a need for policymakers to gain practitioner buy-in when changing policies and practices. Engaging practitioners within the change processes may include seeking and acknowledging their expert input into the design and development of intake assessment criteria. There is a dearth of valid and reliable assessment tools in social work. While this article focuses on content validity, testing assessment tools for reliability is also required. There are methodological challenges to be overcome when there are finite service resources and small service user numbers.

Evacuation Access Simulation during Earthquake Disaster in Vertical Public Housing, Rancacili Bandung as a Case Study

In 2015 the local government relocated some residents from several squatter settlements on government land into Rusunawa Rancacili. Consequently, the relocation has affected occupant lifestyle changes as a form of adaptation in the vertical housing. This adaptation process usually has undesirable impacts. One example is the occupation of public circulation and corridors as personal storage by the occupants. This condition can reduce the space for the disaster evacuation process due to obstruction of public access. Therefore, a simulation is conducted to describe the evacuation possibilities using the actual occupation condition of the flats. The simulation compares the evacuation time required by the occupants in the ideal condition with the actual condition. This study focuses on identifying various factors that hinder the disaster process in the circulation area where obstacles exist. The simulation was conducted using the Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) method to describe occupant behavior during the evacuation process. Data were obtained through field observation surveys and interviews with Rusunawa Rancacili Block 2 residents. It is identified that the longer evacuation time is caused by the closure of exit access, the corridor obstacle with personal belongings, and the walking speed of the elderly group of occupants. The results of this study could provide a recommendation based on the design and operation management of public housing.

Organizational challenges of public housing management in the Global South. A systems assessment of Ghana

Public housing has contributed tremendously to addressing housing deficits in many countries. Notwithstanding the shift towards neo-liberalism, public housing is still relevant in the Global South. Ghana’s response to the neo-liberal call was to sell-off most of the public housing stock and transfer some of the remainder to local authorities. Despite its contribution to labour mobility and productivity, Ghana’s public housing conditions are poor largely due to ineffective management and maintenance. The paper aims to use systems theory to identify the organizational challenges for management that has resulted in poorly maintained public housing. The study interviewed housing experts, local authority staff and tenants; and finds that the organizational structure is poorly defined; irregular financial resource flows impede maintenance, and there is low tenant involvement in housing management. It recommends that housing management activities should be concentrated at the municipal level with defined roles. Mechanisms for tenant participation in management should be introduced to ensure that outcomes meet tenants’ expectations.

A Case Study on Remodeling for Old Public Rental Housing Management

In the case of public rental housing in Korea, which was initially supplied after 30 years of construction, the facilities are aging. After 2015, public rental housing accounted for 42% of the total supply, and vacancy is also increasing as supply and inventory expand. The government is focusing on providing a sustainable living environment through high-quality and efficient inventory management and remodeling in the center of new construction or reconstruction. Therefore, this study comparatively analyzed domestic and foreign cases with a focus on the remodeling project for sustainable management of public rental housing, and drew improvement plans. The study results are as follows. First, active remodeling is needed to improve everything except the basic frame in terms of long-term lifespan extension. Second, in order to improve the negative image of uniform and aging public rental housing in Korea, improvement will be made focusing on the external environment, such as the elevation design of the main building area and the landscaping and green space in the complex area. Third, By providing community spaces closely related to real life such as care spaces, laundry, and libraries in the main dong area and accommodating commercial spaces, the use of community spaces can be activated and accessibility can be improved. Finally, by strengthening the function of the tenant representative council, the opinions of tenants are reflected in the remodeling process, and the step-by-step remodeling process through consultation with residents can be a good method for voluntary management of public rental housing with a weak sense of ownership.

Public Housing Allocation Model in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under Clustering Algorithm

In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Bay Area), the allocation methods of public rental housing are analyzed to achieve scientific and fair housing allocation as much as possible, so as to protect the housing demand of low-income and middle-income families. The housing model in the Bay Area is analyzed firstly, and the key points of public rental housing and allocation management models are discussed comprehensively. Furthermore, a method based on rough-based fuzzy clustering (RFC) is proposed to analyze the housing demands of security groups, and a public housing allocation model is constructed based on actual demand of residents. The housing allocation plan is given and decided by the decision-making department based on the demand of the security objects and the characteristics of public housing. The simulation experiments are performed on the clustering algorithm optimized based on rough set feature selection. On the Chess data set, the optimized clustering algorithm shows an obvious improvement in clustering accuracy and recall rate compared with the traditional clustering algorithms, which are 0.76 and 0.95, respectively. The bilateral matching method based on fuzzy axiom design can fully consider the actual needs of both the supply and demand of the housing security, which is beneficial to improve the rationality and correctness of public housing allocation. The allocation method of public housing based on demand clustering analysis focuses on improving the housing security level and strives to meet the higher-level housing improvement needs of housing security objects, so as to provide security objects with more expected living conditions and improve housing allocation effect.

La vivienda como urbanismo

La presente conversación entre Ana Valderrama y Jorge Jáuregui intenta proveer una mirada crítica sobre el proyecto y la gestión de la vivienda social en Latinoamérica. El artículo plantea el desafío de pensar la complejidad física, social y ambiental que implica hacer ciudad en contextos dinámicos, altamente conflictivos, donde el proyecto de la vivienda trasciende la “casa” e incorpora todas las infraestructuras necesarias para propiciar la cohesión social. Así, la arquitectura podría ser pensada como una urbanidad catalizadora de la vida social y colectiva, rearticuladora del territorio y potenciadora de las identidades locales. En el transcurso del diálogo, Jorge Jáuregui recorre críticamente el legado de la modernidad, proponiendo alternativas a la tabla rasa, la segregación por funciones, la repetición infinita de la misma tipología y el concepto de desarrollo. Además, se despliegan una serie de temas prioritarios vinculados al diseño y la gestión de la vivienda de obra pública, que debieran estar en la agenda de las políticas públicas de los gobiernos latinoamericanos. Se espera que este escrito interpele los modos habituales de pensar las ciudades latinoamericanas tendiendo a modelos de justicia ambiental, social y física, en relación con estrategias para dinamizar la economía popular relativas a la generación de trabajo y renta, articuladas al urbanismo social.

서울시 공공임대주택 주택성능과 주거환경 만족도에 미치는 영향요인

In order to balance with supply policy, public housing management and operation policies have been implemented in terms of housing welfare, but citizens have not yet achieved the results that the citizens are experiencing. The purpose of this study is to analysis the residential satisfaction of the including the housing performance through the characteristics of the public housing residents in Seoul. The data used in this study is based on the survey data of public housing panel survey in Seoul (2016). The study method used ordered logistic regression analysis based on the fact that dependent variables appeared as ordered responses. Major research results are as follows. Firstly, housing performance and residential satisfaction may not match. Even though the satisfaction of housing area, type, and management fee is high, satisfaction with residential environment is low if commuting distance, the number of small libraries, and hospitals are small. Secondly, it showed different characteristics of residential environment factors among types of public housing. Rather than focusing on supply, customized supply is needed considering characteristics of public housing types. Thirdly, the policy for public housing needs to be realized by a fair policy on the residential environment. It is necessary to contribute to better housing stability as a customized policy considering the local residential environment.

Efficiency versus Fairness in the Management of Public Housing Assets in Palermo (Italy)

Public housing policy has been proposing plans of public housing (PH) stock alienation or, as an alternative, property enhancement plans, since administrative and financial commitments have become too heavy for municipalities. This paper deals with one of the current public housing management policy initiatives, undertaken by the Municipality of Palermo (Italy), which aimed at transferring a significant part of the public housing asset to the current tenants, according to some terms and conditions, and applying a politically fixed price. This policy is described in general, focusing on the amount of the assets involved, reporting the terms and conditions for transferring them at an affordable price, and analysing their concentration/distribution in the urban areas. The main aim of the paper is to provide a valuation pattern for defining the trade-off between the efficiency and fairness of such a tool, recognising the conditions for the consistency between the transfer price established by municipality, the merit of the public housing asset, and the market value. A detailed study on two representative neighbourhoods was carried out in order to measure the value of solidarity of this policy and to propose some corrective rules.

A Performance Assessment of Local Authorities in Managing Public Housing in Ghana

The level of maintenance and the condition of public housing has been a significant concern for tenants and housing researchers alike. The state of public housing is often a reflection of its local authority managers and the policy that surrounds it. This paper assesses the performance of local authorities in the management of public housing in Ghana. Data was collected through interviews with local authority housing officers and tenants as well as a small sample survey of tenants. The performance of the authorities mentioned above was measured by three factors; adequacy (house types and quantity), decency (maintenance and satisfaction with maintenance), and affordability (rent levels). The paper concludes that the current state of Ghanaian public housing, when measured against its mandate to provide adequate, decent and affordable housing to beneficiary government workers is substandard due to underperforming local authorities (LAs). The paper suggests that rent policy should be reviewed to empower LAs to self-determine and collect rent. Rents in the public housing sector should be reviewed to realistic levels so that they may generate funds for maintenance. Housing policy should institute internal and external mechanisms to monitor the performance of LAs in the management of public housing.

Better public housing management in Ghana: An approach to improve maintenance and housing quality

Better public housing management in Ghana: An approach to improve maintenance and housing quality

Affordability Measurement among Public Housing Tenants In Ipoh, Malaysia

Affordability issues are frequently debated by housing policy makers. These debates on housing affordability issues occur not only in developing countries, but have attracted attention even in developed nations. Housing affordability requires careful consideration since housing forms one of the biggest expenditure that needs to be allocated for by a family, especially those from the low-income bracket. As not all households can afford to own a house, renting is the last resort for such households. Some of them must rely on public housing tenancies. It is thus crucial for housing management to use a discerning selection process for eligible tenants for the public housing due to the limited supply. Hence, a suitable method of measuring affordability needs to be adopted by the housing management. Affordability measurement methods offer various benefits not only to the policy makers; they also help households determine their own housing affordability levels. The approaches employed in this study are through literature review, reviews of tenant selection forms and interviews with the housing management. Data collated will then be analysed using content analysis method. It is hoped that the findings of the study will aid public housing management to revise the existing tenant selection policies especially on aspects of selecting the most eligible tenants to occupy public housing.

Better public housing management in Ghana

Better public housing management in Ghana

Recent housing transfer experience in Australia: implications for affordable housing industry development

Recent housing transfer experience in Australia: implications for affordable housing industry development

Impact of indoor facilities management on the quality of life of the elderly in public housing

Purpose The aging population is growing rapidly, causing significant increases in the demand for public housing. Normally, the elderly rely heavily on the facilities available in their living environment to maintain their quality of life (QoL). However, most public housing is not purposely designed for the elderly, and, thus, has inappropriate facilities, which often have a negative impact upon the physical and psychological health of residents. This paper aims to investigate the relationships between the indoor facilities management (FM) of public housing and the QoL of elderly persons. Design/methodology/approach Based on an extensive literature review, a questionnaire has been designed and distributed among elderly residents of different public housing buildings. To investigate the impact of indoor FM on the QoL of the senior residents in public housing, statistical analysis methods including reliability analysis and multiple regression modeling were adopted. Findings The study identified 12 indoor FM factors and six QoL domains (i.e. overall QoL, physical and psychological health, independence, social relationship and living environment). The results also reveal that space planning and bathroom influence most QoL domains, including overall QoL, physical/psychological health, independence and living environment of the elderly; electricity and noise mainly affect physical health and independence, while noise is negatively related to elderly QoL; and supporting facilities (including windows and doors, indoor decoration, non-slip floors and accessibility) have a positive impact on psychological health and social relationships. Practical implications Based on the current findings, several practical recommendations are made for the designers and facilities managers, including wide corridors for individuals with wheelchairs, the installation of single-lever-type mixers to provide a stable hot water supply and a window designed to get as much natural light as possible. Originality/value This paper provides a clear picture about elderly special requirements on indoor FM and their QoL. It can assist architects, engineers and facilities managers in public housing to understand elderly needs and improve FM during design and operation stages for enhancing QoL of elderly residents in public housing buildings.