Intergenerational family support for ‘Generation Rent’: the family home for socially disengaged young people

Abstract

This paper critically discusses the concept of intergenerational family support in housing for young people. Recognizing increased difficulties faced by the younger generation in the housing market, this paper highlights that support from older family members is increasingly important. Nonetheless, it is critiqued that the role of the family home has been largely ignored in the current ‘generation rent’ discourse. By drawing on recent youth studies debates, this paper argues living in the family home could be an important form of support in housing, especially for marginalized youth. This paper presents insights from qualitative studies in Hong Kong and Scotland and analyses interview accounts of socially disengaged young people. It reflects how remaining at the family home could be interpreted as intergenerational support, and further elicits complexities in expectations, negotiations and emotions involved. This analysis offers new evidence and a more nuanced perspective of intergenerational family support in housing research.

Keywords:

• Intergenerational family support
• youth
• generation rent
• disengaged young people
• family home
• affordability

Notes

1. In the case of Hong Kong, ‘low-income family’ was determined by whether the participant’s family was eligible to receive Public Rental Housing targeted for low-income families. This meant their families were receiving no more than HK$ 22,390 (approximately £2000) in monthly income for a family of three persons. In the case of Scotland, ‘low-income family’ was determined by whether the participant was eligible to receive Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland (EMA), a means-tested benefit for young people from lower-income backgrounds, and hence had a family annual income of less than £20,351 or £22,404 (for households with two or more children). It is noted that EMA was abolished in England in 2012 but remained active for young people in Scotland.

2. The Housing Authority was a public agency and offered a homeownership scheme specifically for middle-income households to purchase flats in a purpose-built housing estate at below-market rates.

3. Flats in old tenement buildings were typically less expensive and lower quality than mainstream private housing and new-builds in Hong Kong.

4. Affordable housing was provided in the social housing sector available to be rented or purchased at below-market price for households on limited income.

5. Temporary accommodation was provided by the Local Councils for individuals who are homeless or in threat to be homeless.