Human rights and housing unaffordability: Applying policy practice engagement to a wicked problem

INTRODUCTION: In working with marginalised communities, social workers are confronted with the consequences of housing unaffordability. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by Aotearoa New Zealand, identifies housing deprivation as a human right of relevance to social work. This study explores the application of the Policy Practice Engagement (PPE) framework (Gal Weiss-Gal, 2015) as a tool by which social workers can contribute to policy-making processes to address the human right to affordable housing.METHOD: The project used a descriptive/exploratory design. Data were collected by semi- structured interviews of eight subject matter experts in housing affordability: two public sector economists; one private sector economist/developer; two public sector urban planners; one public policy advisor; one non-governmental policy analyst; and one private sector housing strategist. Data were analysed thematically, followed by an inter-rater process.FINDINGS: Participants identified human rights as relevant to the wicked problem (Grint, 2005) of housing affordability. Participants also identified political, economic and environmental factors impacting affordable housing. They considered that these factors are found in local body planning regulations, leading to land supply constraints. Some participants considered that housing unaffordability is the price paid to live in liveable cities.CONCLUSIONS: The PPE framework offers a conceptual structure through which social workers can address housing unaffordability. By understanding the factors causing unaffordability, social workers are enabled to examine why and how they should contribute to policy processes.

Introduction

The Introduction outlines the book’s rationale, research questions, methodology and theoretical frameworks within the context of London’s housing crisis and growing inequality. This context is encapsulated by the street homeless bedding down near citadels of private wealth in the form of luxury apartment blocks – many of which are half-empty – which cater for the global super-rich and are central to London’s property development. It is this juxtaposition – zero domestic space for those who desperately need it, but an overabundance of such space for those who don’t need or even want it – which lies at the cruel heart of London’s housing crisis. Other dimensions of this crisis include housing deprivation (e.g. overcrowding) and dispossession (e.g. evictions), both of which negatively impact upon London’s multi-ethnic working-class population. The chapter examines the highly controversial role played by estate demolition in relation to the housing crisis. The Introduction discusses critical urbanism, Bourdieusian sociology, verstehen sociology, and the sociology and geography of place. Place is examined in terms of attachment, images and myths, and also elective belonging (Savage) and selective belonging (Watt). Other central concepts include home and un-homing, neighbourhood and community, working class (Allen), values (Skeggs), marginalisation (Wacquant), gentrification, expulsions (Sassen) and displacement.

Social inclusion policies and programs in the field of housing in the Republic of Serbia

Homelessness and inadequate housing were out of public policies focus in Europe for a long time. Different theoretical approaches in defining both of these terms, as well as their different manifestations, have resulted in limited activity of the European Union and European countries in formulating housing support policies and programs for vulnerable populations. The subject of this paper are housing support programs in the Republic of Serbia, with the aim of social inclusion of poor population. The objectives of the paper are to describe, analyze and compare available housing support programs in Europe and Serbia, while the method of research is content analysis of relevant political, strategic and legal documents in this field. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that there is a narrow understanding of the concept of homelessness and housing deprivation in public policies in our country, that no specific national strategy is represented and that the programs are dominantly focused on emergency and temporary accommodation services.

The Social Gradient in Mental Health and Well-Being for Indigenous Older Adults Living in Rural Areas: A Cross-Sectional Comparison With Rural Non-indigenous Population in Chile

Objectives: To compare differences in depression, loneliness and personal well-being in a sample made up of indigenous (Aymara and Mapuche) and non-indigenous older people resident in original rural territories. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 800 older adults living in a rural context in Chile, of whom 201 were Aymara, 368 Mapuche and 231 non-indigenous. Validated instruments were included for depression, loneliness and personal well-being (outcome variables). Ordinary least squares regression analyses were performed. Results: Membership of an indigenous group was significantly associated with lower scores for depression and loneliness and higher scores for personal well-being. The interactions of severe deprivation and housing deprivation with indigenous group membership were significantly associated with lower loneliness scores and higher personal well-being scores for Aymara and Mapuche participants. Discussion: Native rural settings and territories may offer a degree of protection to indigenous peoples. Cultural continuity enhanced by rural areas would produce a culturally constructed resilience against deprivation.

Did the elderly suffer more from housing deprivation? Evidence from Poland

PurposeThe elderly seem to be more subject to housing problems due to lower income, older age of the housing stock and lower mobility. Nonetheless, housing deprivation (HD) is commonly analysed amongst the general population. Less is known about the differences between age clusters, which seems to be a crucial issue in countries like Poland due to population ageing. What is more, the current literature usually analyses only the occurrence of HD, while also an accumulation of its indicators seems to be substantial. The aim of this article is to identify the differences in HD (its occurrence and accumulation) amongst elderly and non-elderly households and to diagnose the risk factors behind those phenomena.Design/methodology/approachThe HD index was calculated and compared. Next, the multinomial logit models were used to assess risk factors of HD.FindingsThe study showed that, surprisingly, HD in Poland occurs more frequently amongst non-elderly households. The elderly ones suffered more from housing cost overburden, while non-elderly from the overpopulation. In large part, analysed risk factors had a stronger influence on housing conditions of the elderly than non-elderly households.Social implicationsSocial policy tools should focus on the situation of single elderly households, especially living in houses, often in villages. This group is particularly affected by problems with the quality of the dwelling and housing cost overburden.Originality/valueIn the paper, the occurrence and accumulation of HD indicators were analysed. The authors applied a methodological framework that is applicable to other European Union (EU) member states based on the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) data. It is possible to continue the research study and compare different economies.

Material Disadvantage and Positive Subjective Health of Older Homeless and Older Irish Travelers

Focusing on older Irish Travellers and older homeless people (OTOH) as two marginalised sub-sections of the older population, this paper investigates life-course and structural forms of material disadvantage, and its implications for positive health and accessing community care in older age. With growing interest in strengthening home care structures for older people, it is critical to interrogate the relevance of these structures for those who experience environmental uncertainty in later life, and possess significant trajectories of disadvantage. The analysis draws on 50 life-course interviews with OTOH aged between 50-72 years. The findings illustrate significant life-course experiences of material and multi-faceted forms of disadvantage, including stigma and discrimination, with implications across health and social lives. Housing deprivation was a multi-factorial player, causing certain physical illnesses, hindering some health treatments, and contributing to precarious conditions and sense of self worth. Findings are discussed in relation to flexible models of home care delivery.

Main segments of housing deprivation of Russians: qualitative and quantitative parameters and approaches to reduction

The article presents the results of a study conducted by the authors that continues to monitor the level of housing deprivation of the Russian population based on criteria standards. The scales of groups that differ in quantitative and qualitative parameters of housing conditions are identified, and estimates of the distribution of the population by the level of housing deprivation and monetary income are obtained. We have identified higher levels of housing poverty among the Russian population that exceed the level of monetary income poverty, as well as a significant number of population groups whose housing conditions do not meet the requirements of the criterion standard that determines the middle level of housing deprivation. Priorities for solving problems in the sphere of housing deprivation of the population are identified and mechanisms for their implementation are proposed.