scholarly journals No pets allowed: A trans-species social justice perspective to address housing issues for older adults and companion animals

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 55-68
Author(s):  
Atsuko Matsuoka ◽  
John Sorenson ◽  
Taryn Mary Graham ◽  
Jasmine Ferreira

INTRODUCTION: Significant benefits of companion animals (i.e., pets) for older adults are recognized and publications on Animal-Assisted Intervention, Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapies with older adults are growing. Studies on housing and community- residing older adults with companion animals from a non-utilitarian perspective on other animals, however, are rather limited.METHODS: For this scoping review, we used a Critical Animal Studies perspective, in particular, a trans-species social justice framework to address two questions: “What are the scope and size of the literature on housing for community living older adults with companion animals?” and “What is known from the existing literature?” We searched peer-reviewed publications from 1980 to 2019 by using MEDLINE, PsychINFO, ProQuest and Scopus.FINDINGS: Six works from Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand and US met our criteria. A disturbing reality was discovered: Restrictive leasing (‘no pets’ for rental housing) among low-income older adults with companion animals in public housing has persisted for the last 40 years and prevents them from accessing affordable housing. Also, the discourse of pets as problems or risk seems to justify prohibiting older adults from living with companion animals.CONCLUSION: Utilising the concept of speciesism and a trans-species social justice framework for analysis, we argue that intersectional institutional oppression of speciesism and classism is a root cause of the situation. Justice for older adults cannot be achieved without justice for their companion animals. Future studies in human–animal relations and education and practice in social work need to incorporate ideas of speciesism and justice beyond humans.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 708-708
Author(s):  
Muhammad Qureshi ◽  
Atiya Mahmood ◽  
Ghazaleh Akbarnejad ◽  
Rahil Adeli ◽  
Dana Sharon

Abstract Older adults living in rental housing with limited income are at-risk for experiencing life-course disruptions, including social isolation, loneliness and homelessness. To address these needs, one Vancouver-based affordable housing provider for older adults has implemented community development initiatives (CDIs), including resident-led community gardens, workshops, and social events. Based on data from three focus groups, resulting in a total of fifteen participants, this study explored the efficacy of five different CDIs in supporting residents’ social connection and sense of community. Findings revealed that CDIs contribute to increased social engagement and inclusion of older adults living in affordable rental housing. In particular, resident-led community gardens were identified as the most impactful CDI in supporting both social engagement and inclusion, with the added benefit of addressing resident’s food insecurity. We discuss how CDIs can be implemented in various housing settings for low-income older adults as an effective method of supporting aging-in-the-right place. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 761-762
Author(s):  
Jennifer Bacci ◽  
Joshua Akers ◽  
Katie Mahan ◽  
Geoffrey Meer ◽  
Jeffrey Kinter ◽  
...  

Abstract In 2015, one independent community pharmacy partnered with the local Area Agency on Aging to provide medication coaching to low-income, culturally diverse, older adults living in 6 affordable housing buildings in the Seattle area. A pilot was conducted during the 2015-2016 fiscal year to determine the need for and feasibility of the service. Process outcomes, including patient and service demographics, medication-related problems, and pharmacist interventions, were captured via the pharmacists’ patient care documentation. Pharmacists had 34 total visits with 17 unique residents who were taking an average of 8.1 medications. Pharmacists identified 97 medication-related problems, averaging 5.7 problems per resident, and performed 88 interventions, averaging 5.2 interventions per resident. The findings of this pilot demonstrated the needs and feasibility of implementing pharmacists’ services within a housing organization structure and has resulted in the continuation and growth of the program.


Urban Studies ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 004209802092783
Author(s):  
Matthew Palm ◽  
Katrina Eve Raynor ◽  
Georgia Warren-Myers

Governments worldwide have responded to housing affordability challenges with supply-side solutions. Proponents of these approaches often draw on the notion of ‘filtering effects’ to argue that new supply naturally trickles down to lower-income households over time, improving affordability. This study examines the characteristics of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing in Melbourne, Australia, analysing how dwelling age impacts rental cost. We specify a non-linear relationship between building age and rents through hedonic rent modelling, reflecting a premium for historic properties in inner Melbourne. We also conduct a cluster analysis of rental listings and measure affordability by cluster. Our results problematise the notion of filtering, finding that most contemporary affordable housing was initially built in the 1960s and 1970s as social housing or targeted at low-income households. We argue that filtering in this instance is not natural but is instead a reflection of historic government expenditure and past construction choices, or ‘filter up’.


2020 ◽  
pp. 003802612091612
Author(s):  
Max Holleran

This article examines housing activism in five American cities using interviews with millennial-age housing activists, seeking more apartment development, and baby boomers who are members of neighbourhood groups that oppose growth. Many of the groups supporting growth have banded together under the banner of the ‘Yes in My Backyard’ (YIMBY) movement which seeks fewer zoning laws and pushes for market-rate rental housing. In desirable cities with thriving job opportunities, housing costs are pricing out not only low-income renters but also the middle class. The millennial activists sampled blame baby boomers for the lack of affordable housing because of resistance to higher density construction in neighbourhoods with single-family homes (characterising these people as having a ‘Not in My Backyard’ [NIMBY] mindset). The research shows that boomers and millennials not only disagree over urban growth but also more fundamental questions of what makes a liveable city.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anabela Santos

No volume “Defining Critical Animal Studies: An Intersectional Social Justice Approach for Liberation”, Anthony J. Nocella II, John Sorenson, Kim Socha e Atsuko Matsuoka apresentam...


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 473-473
Author(s):  
Hae-Ra Han ◽  
Nicole Marrone ◽  
Jonathan Suen ◽  
Sarah Szanton ◽  
Jami Trumbo ◽  
...  

Abstract Within hearing care, significant disparities persist despite the highly prevalent nature of age-related hearing loss and relatively few trials include representation of racial/ethnic minorities. HEARS is an affordable, accessible hearing care intervention delivered by older adult peer mentors. The HEARS randomized controlled trial (NCT03442296) is a community-engaged RCT with an embedded human-centered design practitioner. Recruitment efforts occurred over 18 months in partnership with 13 affordable housing and social centers. The cohort (n=151) includes 43% (n=65) who self-identify as African American and 63.6% (n=96) with <$25,000 annual household income. The cohort represents the largest to-date of African American and low-income older adults with hearing loss. Recruitment efforts entailed 470.5 staff hours and $4,917.26 in supplies, equating to 1.4 hours and $14.13 per 1 individual screened and 3.1 hours and $32.56 for 1 participant randomized. Community-engaged research, partnered with human-centered design, may offer critical approaches to increasing representation within behavioral intervention trials.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-118
Author(s):  
Anand Sahasranaman ◽  
Vishnu Prasad ◽  
Aditi Balachander

The design of housing solutions for low-income populations has been one of the most pressing policy concerns in developing countries like India. In this work, we explore the effect of risks confronting low-income households—unemployment, health and mortality—on their choice of housing arrangements. We use simulations to study the evolution of long-term wealth of a stylised low-income household faced with these risks and find that, on average, rental housing significantly reduces the risk of undesirable wealth fluctuations over time. From a policy perspective, this means greater focus and incentives for the development of low-income rental markets using strategies such as provision of rental vouchers, rent-to-own models or long-term leases, in addition to the traditional ownership-based housing strategies. The development of housing solutions encompassing a range of rental and ownership models will be critical to ensuring the availability of safe and affordable housing for all urban residents. JEL Codes: C63, O18


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 873-873
Author(s):  
Manish Kumar ◽  
Laura Richman

Abstract Neighborhoods play a central role in healthy aging, with changes to neighborhoods having a profound impact on older adults’ ability to age in place. Using gentrification as an indicator of neighborhood change and applying the theoretical framework of the Environmental Press model (Lawton and Nahemow, 1973), this study examined the relationship between changing environments, affordable housing, and environmental attributes that support and hinder the health and well-being of older adults. A qualitative, case-study approach was used to interview low-income, majority Black older adults in a gentrifying area of Washington DC. 32 individuals (16 in non-profit and 16 in for-profit affordable housing) aged 55 and older participated in semi-structured interviews on perceptions of gentrification, neighborhood change, and challenges and supports to aging in place. Transcripts were then analyzed using the framework method of analysis. Although participants generally reported that gentrification improved their neighborhood’s built environment, many attributed it to a decline in social capital. Affordable housing provided an ability to age in place, though participants expressed uncertainty over their long-term ability to age in the context of continuing change. These findings suggest that while the physical changes accompanying gentrification may support older adults’ ability to age in place, its detrimental impact on social capital further increases their risk for social isolation. While affordable housing may enable older adults to age in place, fostering a greater sense of permanence and well-being will require additional policies that both increase accessibility to the physical amenities provided by gentrification and preserve older adults’ social capital.


2012 ◽  
Vol 472-475 ◽  
pp. 2111-2115
Author(s):  
Yu Ying Cui ◽  
Jin Xin Tian ◽  
Zhi Qing Li

In order to understand the demand characteristics of housing security and improve the implementation effect of security policies, the subdivided family lifecycle of low-income family housing need was analyzed by fuzzy clustering with some Harbin samples, and the characteristics of various stages of housing security need, which was meet by four modes, such as “high subsidy +cheap-rent housing”, “rent subsidy”, “home ownership subsidy+ affordable housing”, “low rent subsidy + public rental housing”. The study has positive theoretical significance and practical value on the housing security policy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document