Public Housing Research Articles

Seasonal indoor air quality, self-reported health and comfort amongst tenants living at Danish multi-family social housing sites

Studies have identified seasonal differences between the indoor environment and residents’ comfort, as well as an association between indoor air quality (IAQ) and residents’ overall health. Furthermore, measured IAQ is not always aligned with perceived IAQ. The HOME-Health study is a cross-sectional study with seasonal measurements of IAQ amongst residents living in social housing. The aim is to describe and analyse measured and perceived IAQ, and residents’ health symptoms. We found a lower relative humidity, temperature (TP) and air change level (h−1) level, and a higher carbon dioxide (CO2) level during winter compared to summer. In general, higher IAQ levels were measured in apartments with increased crowdedness. The inability to be able to create cross ventilation increased TP, and a larger number of rooms decreased TP. Overall, there was no clear alignment between measured and perceived IAQ, but we found a trend that higher CO2-levels led to a perception of poor IAQ especially during summer. Overall, draught and thermal discomfort were the most common complaints. Self-reported humidity was increased during winter and was associated with nasal and respiratory symptoms, whereas self-reported humidity during summer was associated with fatigue and dermal symptoms. Findings show challenges with IAQ in Danish social housing that are associated with negative health issues.

Quantitative filter forensics for allergens and semivolatile organic compounds in residential buildings in Toronto, Canada

Quantitative filter forensics (QFF) is a method for estimating the time-averaged concentration of particle-bound containments using filter metadata and its extracted dust. In this study, QFF was applied to dust samples extracted from four types of HVAC filters deployed in 20 homes from December 2016 to December 2017 in Toronto, Canada. The analysis covered six allergens, eight phthalates, and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The allergen results from four homes showed elevated concentrations of cat and dog allergens (Fel d 1 and Can f 1) in homes with cats or dogs. All eight phthalates were detected, dominated by diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), with median concentrations of 4.27 ng/m³ and 4.20 ng/m³, respectively. All PAHs, except anthracene, were detected in over 50 % of the homes, with benzo[a]pyrene being the most abundant (median concentration of 0.067 ng/m³). Median concentrations of all semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) were lower in winter 2016 compared to spring 2017, potentially due to losses of more volatile SVOCs from filters because of higher filtration volumes in winter, in addition to differences in sources and ventilation rates. All phthalate and most PAH concentrations were one to two orders of magnitude lower compared to those found from QFF in apartments in Toronto social housing multi-unit residential buildings (MURB), indicating those with lower socio-economic status (SES) were exposed to higher SVOC concentrations. Occupant density was positively related to most phthalate and specific PAH concentrations, while environmental factors including room temperature, relative humidity, and supply air temperature were not.

How Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors Shape Privacy in Ibadan's Public Housing Estates

This study investigates the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of residents in selected public housing estates in Ibadan, focusing on the privacy regulatory mechanisms they adopt. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the research involved administering questionnaires to 565 household heads and conducting in-depth interviews with eight key informants from neighbourhood associations. The findings indicate a significant majority (92.00%) of respondents have adopted privacy regulating mechanisms, with personal space and territorial behaviour being the most common. ANOVA results reveal a significant relationship between these mechanisms and the residents' socio-economic and cultural characteristics. Qualitative insights from key informants' interviews provided a nuanced understanding of residents' privacy needs, highlighting emotional and behavioural cues, as well as verbal and non-verbal data. The study concludes that privacy regulation in public housing varies across different estates and is influenced by nine socio-economic and cultural factors, offering guidance for sustainable housing design that considers contemporary urbanization's socio-economic impacts. These findings can inform architects and policymakers in creating housing designs that respect privacy and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Apartment Layouts of Social Housing for Tomsk Architecture

Apartment layouts define the types of residential cells and their correlation with a multiapartment residential building or residential development. It is one of the main parameters that determines spatial planning in the architectural design of a multi-apartment residential building.Purpose: To formulate recommendations for classification of residential cells of the housing fund for social use, which will be appropriate for the architectural design of a multi-apartment residential building; to determine accommodation of different types of apartments for families registered in the Tomsk regional administrations to improve living conditions. The criteria that determine the place of residential cells in the spatial planning solution of a multi-apartment residential building include the demographic composition of families and mobility of their members.Methodology: Statistical data analysis and diagrams of spatial planning solutions for multiapartment residential buildings, making use of residential cells of one to six rooms.Value: Solutions for housing architecture are proposed through apartment layouts in terms of the spatial planning for multi-apartment residential buildings in the Tomsk social housing.

Elevating property management in public housing: A systematic literature review

Public housing (PH) focuses on assisting low-income households with housing stability. However, the inefficiency of property management in PH gives rise to a range of challenges in both physical and internal operational management, leading to negative stigmatisation towards tenants living in PH. Various initiatives have been launched to address the inefficiencies of property management. This study categorised and elaborated these initiatives under three main categories: reconceptualisation, externalisation, and managerialisation. There is currently no systematic literature review that provides a comprehensive overview of the initiatives aimed at enhancing property management in PH on a global scale, despite the fact that an overwhelming number of initiatives have been proposed in various studies. Therefore, the present systematic literature review was conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the existing research and initiatives pertinent to PH property management. This thorough examination will not only inform the current state of property management practices but also provide valuable insights to guide future research endeavours and decision-making processes in this domain. The outcome of this study revealed the positive impact of managerialisation, showcasing its pivotal role in problem identification and as a strategic indicator for proposing solutions aimed at continuous improvement.

The incentive effects of project governance elements on agents in agent-led construction of social security housing projects

The agent-led construction system is a construction mode that emphasizes the introduction of professional management teams instead of government departments to develop public projects in China, including social security housing. In reality, the problem in practice is that the government owners’ management system of the agent market is not sound enough, and it cannot effectively motivate the agents. Existing research has not paid enough attention to this agent construction market. To reveal the effective incentives of agent developers, using the stimulus–organism–response theory, this study constructed a structural equation model and proposed a research hypothesis about the effect of project governance elements on project performance. The study found that governance elements including internal contractual governance, external contractual governance, and relational governance, had a positive incentivizing effect on the project performance. The psychology and behavior of the construction agent played a partial mediating role. The results provide a policy implication for city government to improve the incentive system for agent construction of security housing projects.

“Hard” and “Soft” Privatization of Municipal Housing: A Case Study of the Warmia and Mazury Province in Poland

Abstract Public housing privatization has changed the ownership and management patterns in Europe, leading to the emergence of many housing properties with a mixed (public-private) ownership structure. This study investigates the actual privatization degree of ownership and management in public-private housing condominiums (PPHCs) in Poland. In particular, the dependencies between these two types of housing privatization were identified. To achieve the aim of the study a multi-stage research methodology was applied, which was based on the triangulation of research methods such as questionnaire interviews, cluster analysis (using the agglomeration technique and Kohonen artificial neural network), and correlation analysis. Empirical research was conducted on the sample of the 30 largest municipalities from the Warmia and Mazury Province in Poland. The results showed different quantitative characterization and rather loose dependencies between the privatization of ownership and management of municipal housing in the sample of municipalities. This did not allow us to confirm the hypothesis that the privatization of ownership of municipal housing stock in PPHCs under study adequately drove the privatization of management in these properties. Therefore, the analysis of social, managerial, and institutional barriers to the privatization of property management services in PPHCs was recommended as a direction for further research.

A Study of the Prospects and Challenges of India's Government Social Rental Housing

This research explores into the complex world of social rental housing schemes run by the Indian government, looking at its prospective & challenges. It is the responsibility of the government to provide "housing for all," as this is a right incorporated in the Constitutional Directive Principles of State Policy. Social rental housing is a subset of rental housing that aims to include more people. In response, the government of India has launched several social rental housing initiatives to make affordable, good housing available to everybody. Essential components in reducing housing disparity, it assesses how well these programs foster social inclusion & sustainable urban development. Until recently, the topic of rental housing in India was mostly ignored. With the fact that there are 21.72 million urban rented houses, no legislative framework has been put in place to encourage private sector involvement in this crucial subset of housing, even though the country has been independent for 72 years.

Support for temporary protection of displaced populations in the EU: A conjoint experiment

Millions of people were forced to flee Ukraine after Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, one of the fastest displacements in decades. Citizens' response in EU countries (where most displaced Ukrainians arrived) has been considerably more positive than in past refugee crises. This study investigates several possible drivers of this difference. We conduct a large conjoint experiment in six EU Member States, eliciting willingness to provide temporary protection to hypothetical groups of future migrants whose characteristics we manipulate systematically. We find that all of the experimental variables make a difference. We observe a greater support for protecting groups consisting of relatively many children and many women rather than men. The region of origin and the religious affiliation play a major role. Finally, we see greater support for people fleeing a war rather than poverty or the adverse consequences of climate change. While all these effects are identified consistently across different groups of respondents (e.g., the respondent's religion played a limited role), effect sizes vary considerably between countries. Finally, we randomly manipulate which aspect of temporary protection (social housing, access to the labour market) is emphasised in our communication to the participants. We find this manipulation to have a limited effect on the public support for the policy.

Effects of Social Group Housing on the Behavioral and Physiological Responses of Captive Sub-Adult Giant Pandas.

Wild giant pandas are inherently solitary creatures, however, the ex-situ conservation efforts significantly alter the living circumstances of their captive counterparts. Following the breeding period, giant pandas in captivity may be maintained in social groups. Currently, there is a lack of research on the effects of group housing on the physiology, behavior, and gut microbiota of captive giant pandas. This study divided six captive giant pandas into two groups following the breeding period. By comparing the behavior, physiology, and microorganisms of the two groups, we aim to investigate the behavioral responses and physiological adaptation mechanisms exhibited by captive giant pandas in a "group living" state. Our findings indicate that sub-adult giant pandas housed in group settings exhibit a significantly longer duration of playing behavior (including interactive and non-interactive play) compared to their counterparts housed separately (p < 0.001) while also demonstrating a significantly lower duration of stereotyped behavior than their separately housed counterparts. Additionally, an analysis of urine cortisol and heart rate variability between the two groups revealed no significant differences. Simultaneously, the group housing strategy markedly elevated the β diversity of gut microbiota in sub-adult giant pandas. In conclusion, the group-rearing model during the sub-adult stage has been shown to significantly alter the behavioral patterns of captive giant pandas. In conclusion, within the present captive setting, the group-rearing approach during the sub-adult stage proved to be less distressing for adult captive giant pandas.

Korelasi Sistem Pemberian Insentif dan Disiplin Kerja terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Penataan Ruang dan Perumahan Rakyat Pemerintah Provinsi Kalimantan Timur

This study aims to analyze the correlation between the incentive system and work discipline on employee performance at the Public Works, Spatial Planning, and Public Housing Department of East Kalimantan Province. The research method used is quantitative, with data collected through questionnaires distributed to 170 employees. Validity and reliability tests showed that the research instruments were valid and reliable. Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression. The results indicated that both partially and simultaneously, the incentive system and work discipline significantly affect employee performance. The independent variables contributed 14.1% to employee performance, while the remaining 85.9% is influenced by other variables outside this study. This study recommends that management continue to enhance aspects of discipline, cooperation, and employee productivity to improve overall performance .

Does receipt of social housing impact mental health? Results of a quasi-experimental study in the Greater Toronto Area

Affordable housing is commonly described as an important determinant of health, but there are relatively few intervention studies of the effects of housing on health. In this paper, we describe the results of a quasi-experimental, longitudinal study investigating the impacts of receiving social housing among a cohort of 502 people on waitlists for social housing in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Specifically, we sought to determine if adults who received housing were more likely than a control group to show improvements in depression, psychological distress, and self-rated mental health 6, 12 and 18 months after moving to housing. Amongst the participants, 137 received social housing and completed at least one follow-up interview; 304 participants did not receive housing and completed at least one follow-up interview and were treated as a control group (47 people provided data to both groups). The difference-in-differences technique was used to estimate the effect of receiving housing by comparing changes in the outcomes over time in the housed (intervention) group and the group that remained on the waitlist for social housing (control group). Adjusted mixed effects linear models showed that receiving housing resulted in significant decreases in psychological distress and self-rated mental health between the groups. Improvements in self-rated mental health between the groups were observed 6, 12 and 18 months after receiving housing (6 months, +2.9, p <0.05; 12 months, +2.6, p <0.05; 18 months, +3.0, p <0.05). Reductions in psychological distress (-1.4, p <0.05) were observed 12 months after receiving housing. Overall findings suggest that receiving subsidized housing improves mental health over a 6-to-18-month time horizon. This has policy and funding implications suggesting a need to reduce wait times and expand access to subsidized housing.

Examining the importance of neighborhood natural, and built environment factors in predicting older adults' mental well-being: An XGBoost-SHAP approach

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that urban neighborhood environmental factors significantly influence the health outcomes of urban older adults. However, most cross-sectional studies exploring the health effects of these factors have failed to quantify the relative importance of each factor. MethodsWe use XGBoost machine learning techniques and SHAPley Additive Interpretation (SHAP) to rank the importance of urban neighborhood environmental factors in shaping the mental health of urban older adults. To address self-selection bias in housing choice, we distinguish older adults living in private housing from those living in public as residents in private housing have more freedom to choose where to live. ResultsThe results show that both natural and built environmental factors in urban neighborhoods are important predictors of mental well-being scores. Five natural environmental factors (blue space, perceived greenery quantity, NDVI, street view greenness, aesthetic quality) and three built environmental factors (physical activity facilities quality, physical activity facilities quantity, neighborhood disorder) had considerable predictive power for mental well-being scores in two groups. Among them, blue space, perceived greenery quantity and street view greenness quantity became less important after controlling for self-selection bias, possibly because of the unequal distribution of quantity and quality, and the performance of neighborhood disorder, aesthetic quality and physical activity facilities quality was more sensitive in public housing. ConclusionsThese results highlight the nuanced and differential effects of neighborhood environmental exposures on mental well-being outcomes, depending on housing preferences. The results of this study can provide support for decision makers in urban planning, landscape design and environmental management in order to improve the mental well-being status of urban older adults.

Long-term effects of pre-weaning social housing on response to a social and housing transition in pregnant heifers

Dairy cattle are routinely managed in social groups and subject to various management and social transitions, yet conventional approaches to rearing dairy calves limit social experience during early weeks of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term effects of dairy calf social housing, with calves housed individually or in pairs, on long-term behavioral responses observed in pregnant heifers following social regrouping and introduction to a novel housing environment. Holstein heifers were raised during the milk-feeding period (provided 8 L/d milk replacer) in either individual pens (n = 20 heifers) or paired pens (n = 20 pens; 1 focal heifer/pen) and subsequently identically managed in groups on pasture from 9 weeks of age. At 30 d before expected calving, pregnant heifers were moved from pasture to a free stall barn, which represented introduction to a novel social group and an unfamiliar housing environment. Behavior was continuously recorded from video for 24 h, beginning at 0000 h on the day after introduction, to characterize feeding behavior, locomotor activity, and stall usage, as well as social proximity and competitive behavior surrounding the feed bunk and stall. Stocking density of the free stall barn fluctuated and was categorized as low (≤75%, 100 × animals in pen/available stalls), medium (>75%, 100%), or high (≥100%). Body weights obtained following calving indicated that previously PH heifers were heavier (632.3 vs. 593.4 kg; PH vs. IH), and body weight was included as a covariate in analysis of feeding behavior. Upon introduction to the free stall pen, previously PH heifers spent more time walking (1.9 vs. 1.3 min/h) with no effect of calf social housing on duration of lying time. However, stall use was subject to an interaction between previous housing treatment and stocking density and differed overall between previous housing treatments; previously PH heifers spent less time in the stall, particularly at high stocking density (29.4 vs. 48 min/h), due to shorter (29.6 vs. 95.7 min/visit) but marginally more frequent stall visits. Previously pair-housed heifers were also less likely to be displaced from a stall (44 vs. 85% of heifers replaced; PH vs. IH). Feeding behavior was similarly influenced by previous housing treatment particularly at high stocking density, with previously PH heifers spending more time feeding (8.2 vs. 4.2 min/h) and visiting the feed bunk more frequently (1.5 vs. 0.8 visits/h). These results suggest that preweaning social housing had long-term effects on behavior and ability to adapt to a novel environment which became most apparent under heightened competitive pressure.

Stakeholders’ longitudinal perspectives on a large public housing redevelopment in Los Angeles, California

The Homeownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere VI programme (HOPE VI) model created a new approach to redeveloping public housing in the US, paving the way for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI). Unlike traditional public housing redevelopment, CNI aims to revitalise entire ecosystems to create sustainable, thriving communities by focusing on housing, people, neighbourhoods and participatory community planning. This study used qualitative methods to explore the longitudinal perspectives of 12 stakeholders involved in a large CNI-funded public housing redevelopment project in Los Angeles, California. Our grounded theory analysis identified four key themes: (1) persistent community ghosts; (2) growing regeneration rooted in optimism and hope for the future; (3) displacement concerns; and (4) the emergence of a mixed-income dichotomy. These findings underscore the importance of continued community involvement in redevelopment efforts, especially in communities that bear complex historical and social challenges.

Stakeholders’ longitudinal perspectives on a large public housing redevelopment in Los Angeles, California

The Homeownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere VI programme (HOPE VI) model created a new approach to redeveloping public housing in the US, paving the way for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI). Unlike traditional public housing redevelopment, CNI aims to revitalise entire ecosystems to create sustainable, thriving communities by focusing on housing, people, neighbourhoods and participatory community planning. This study used qualitative methods to explore the longitudinal perspectives of 12 stakeholders involved in a large CNI-funded public housing redevelopment project in Los Angeles, California. Our grounded theory analysis identified four key themes: (1) persistent community ghosts; (2) growing regeneration rooted in optimism and hope for the future; (3) displacement concerns; and (4) the emergence of a mixed-income dichotomy. These findings underscore the importance of continued community involvement in redevelopment efforts, especially in communities that bear complex historical and social challenges.

The devastating dance between opioid and housing crises: Evidence from OxyContin reformulation

Housing instability and drug misuse are two of the United States' most pressing challenges, each bearing profound health and societal consequences. A crucial yet largely underexplored question is the extent to which the opioid crisis has intensified housing instability. Our study ventures into this relatively uncharted nexus, investigating how the OxyContin reformulation, a pivotal moment in the U.S. opioid epidemic, impacted eviction rates. Employing a dose-response Difference-in-Differences model and analyzing eviction data from 2004 to 2016, we demonstrate that the OxyContin reformulation precipitated a significant increase in evictions, especially in areas with weak eviction protections or limited access to psychiatric treatment resources. Channel analyses reveal increased marijuana initiation and heightened mental and physical health issues following the reformulation. Moreover, the OxyContin reformulation leads to greater reliance on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, signaling an escalated financial strain on governmental resources. Finally, we find evidence of increased marital disruption post-reformulation. Our findings underscore the urgent need for collaborative efforts between public health and housing authorities to address both the opioid and housing crises.

A Maintenance Cost and Work Performance Analysis on Irrigation Network at Kaubun Irrigation Area of East Kutai Regency, Indonesia

An irrigation network maintenance is an effort to maintain and secure the irrigation network to be always ready and well functioned. In facilitating its operational implementation and maintain its sustainability cycle, it can be attained through maintenance, repair, prevention, and security activities that must be conducted in continuity. The Kaubun irrigation area is one of the irrigation areas under the authority of central government with area length of 1,150 Ha (standard area) and 736 Ha (functional area), located in the East Kutai Regency. The Kaubun irrigation area has 1 (one) weir or dam and 2 (two) main canals. The irrigation network maintenance has not been carried out in routine and periodical ways either by the East Kalimantan Provincial Government or by the East Kutai Regency Government. Sediment accumulation is one of the main problems found in the secondary irrigation canal and able to cause canal blockage, reduced water flow capacity and increased infrastructure damage. This research was carried out by evaluating the Irrigation Network System and observing several factors causing channel damage with a guidance from regulation of Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Number:12/PRT/M/2015 on date 6 April 2015, regarding Exploitation and Maintenance of Irrigation Network. Result of the research showed that recapitulation of the work performance index for Kaubun Irrigation Network System was obtain the largest optimum value in Physical Infrastructure aspect with an index value of 29.01. Meanwhile, the result from main treatment priority by employing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method found the Physical Infrastructure aspect has a limiting value of 0.462. Finally, the routine and periodical maintenance costs for the Kaubun irrigation area is IDR.3.753.835.675.00

The role of speculation on housing price disparities

This paper explores the impact of speculation on disparities in home purchase prices within neighborhoods. Using administrative data on residential real estate transactions in Singapore's private housing market, our analysis reveals that housing unit prices increase over time within a neighborhood in the presence of speculators. However, this pattern remains stable after the implementation of macroprudential policies aimed at deterring speculation. Our mechanism analysis indicates that while speculative sales contribute to the increase in the price of neighboring units over time, speculative purchases have negligible effects. These findings underscore the potential of macroprudential policies in mitigating speculation and promoting housing affordability.

From desperation to best practice: Spatial decision-making in the regeneration of Gyldenrisparken

Post-war social housing estates in Europe have been undergoing wide-scale regeneration to improve the physical decay of these sites and address the concentration of vulnerable residents in these areas, which has resulted in their social segregation, marginalisation and stigmatisation. As these estates cover and affect quite large public spaces, holistic approaches have recently been adopted. Bearing in mind that each regeneration case is unique, this paper describes the collaborative approach taken in the regeneration of Gyldenrisparken in Denmark, which evolved from a desperate situation to a best practice case. The paper focuses on the spatial decision-making process — in particular, how the architectural quality of physical interventions was established and how participatory mechanisms were utilised and developed to enable liveable spaces and sustainable regeneration. Making use of a combination of qualitative documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with key actors, this study encompasses the whole regeneration process, including initiatives taken by the housing association and municipal agents, the methodology developed to collect ideas and implement them in the physical design of the public spaces, and the social effort to make the whole process sustainable and the estates liveable. It concludes that post-war estates have the potential to secure their future by embracing physical and social efforts through proactive empowerment strategies and creating new spatial identities.