Residents’ perspectives of housing needs in an urban neighborhood

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to explore housing characteristics valued and needed by residents of a Midwestern urban neighborhood in the United States. The neighborhood had experienced an influx of new residents in recent years who, in community meetings, expressed housing and neighborhood priorities dissimilar to longer-term residents, thus prompting the local community organization’s interest in how it could better serve its residents. This qualitative study explored what respondents valued most and least about their current housing and what they needed to stay in their current homes and neighborhood. Using the Morris and Winter Housing Adjustment Theory as a framework, a survey instrument was developed to obtain respondents’ opinions to four open-ended questions. The study used a convenience sample and 255 individuals responded. Based on how long they had lived in their homes, the respondents were divided into quartiles to compare responses. Responses varied little among the quartiles indicating that newer residents were similar to longer-term residents. Comments that differed among quartiles were related to information needed to make home improvements, financial help, and accessibility modifications. Recommendations for the neighborhood’s community organization are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Housing
• neighborhood
• housing needs
• residential mobility

Acknowledgments

This study was funded in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Project [MIN-53-017]. A former Ph.D. candidate, Michael A. Urness, assisted in the preparation of the survey instrument.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Calculated using the BLS Inflation Calculator (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, MinnesotaAgricultural Experiment Station Project [MIN-53-017].

Notes on contributors

Becky L. Yust

Becky L. Yust is a professor of housing studies at the University of Minnesota. Her research has included investigations of housing adequacy and affordability, healthy housing initiatives, and the design of affordable housing. Yust is on the Board of Directors of the Sustainable Resources Center, Minneapolis.

Nima D. Meghdari

Nima D. Meghdari is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota in the Housing Studies Track of the Design Graduate Program. He holds a Masters of Architecture and is accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council and the International WELL Building Institute as a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) and a WELL AP.