Room for improvement: Housing satisfaction of formerly homeless families.
Item
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Title
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Room for improvement: Housing satisfaction of formerly homeless families.
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Identifier
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AAI9732982
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identifier
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9732982
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Creator
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Valmont, Mary Eustace.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Leanne G. Rivlin
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Date
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1997
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Women's Studies | Sociology, Individual and Family Studies | Sociology, Public and Social Welfare | Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies | Sociology, Criminology and Penology
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Abstract
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The sources of housing satisfaction for formerly homeless families were investigated in a group of 40 Black and Hispanic women who had been rehoused through their stay in the New York City shelter system. Housing satisfaction was examined for this population because the constraints imposed on housing options for such families by the rehousing polices of New York City, and the macro-level social and economic conditions shaped by their race, gender, and poverty, might hinder their opportunities for obtaining satisfaction with their housing. Respondents were interviewed in their homes using a structured, open- and closed-ended interview which assessed a variety of potential housing satisfaction factors such as pre-rehousing history, quality and satisfaction ratings for the apartment, building, neighborhood and housing, perceived housing alternatives and social connections. Housing satisfaction, as well as the other satisfaction and quality variables, was measured by a respondent's rating on a 5-point Likert scale. The research investigated the following: (1) if the length of time rehoused was significantly related to housing satisfaction; (2) if apartment quality, as compared to building and neighborhood quality, would have the highest correlation with housing satisfaction; and (3) the primary reasons for the housing satisfaction ratings.;The quantitative and qualitative data analyses revealed the following: (1) housing tenure was not statistically related to housing satisfaction; (2) apartment quality, when compared to building and neighborhood quality, did not have the greatest impact on housing satisfaction; and (3) analyses of the reasons for the housing satisfaction rating revealed a meta-theme of qualifying the responses with a " ... but ... " clause which deflates the predominately positive ratings of the apartment and building quality and satisfaction scales. In addition, three dominant themes arose from the analyses of these responses: safety in the neighborhood; maintenance of the apartment and/or building; and interpersonal relations with family, friends, neighbors and building staff.;The implications of these findings for policies concerning the rehousing of formerly homeless families and low-income housing are discussed, in addition to concerns about the possible limitations of the construct of "housing satisfaction" for such populations.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
