Experiences of Public Housing Residents Following Relocation: Explorations of Ambiguous Loss, Resiliency, and Cross-Generational Perspectives

Abstract

The forced relocation of public housing residents through the HOPE VI program has disrupted social networks as well as residents' attachment to place. HOPE VI emphasizes improving physical appearance of housing, enhancing surrounding community, and fostering economic self-sufficiency but discounts the importance of existing social networks. Disruption of social and physical community represents ambiguous loss, as there is no recognition and no closure. This article reports on focus groups conducted among residents of a Pacific Northwest public housing development, largely made up of immigrants and refugees, already experiencing losses through migration. Focus group themes include loss of social network, loss of place, generational tensions and strengths, resiliency of participants.

Keywords:

• HOPE VI
• ambiguous loss
• immigrants
• relocation
• public housing
• poverty

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author would like to thank the Board of Regents of Pacific Lutheran University, for the Regency Advancement Award that funded this research. Our research team is grateful to the focus group participants who shared their stories.