Residential satisfaction in scattered-site public housing projects

Abstract

In the 1950s and 1960s public housing was built in big central projects. Since 1976 it has been dispersed. The change to smaller projects scattered throughout a city has raised questions about the satisfaction of the residents who have been separated from former neighborhoods of friends, relatives, and often jobs. This study interviewed 160 residents in eight scattered-site public housing projects in Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite relocation, the occupants clearly were satisfied. Their satisfaction was related to an improvement over previous residence, the quality of the dwelling unit, feeling at home in the neighborhood, shortness of time in residence, and overall satisfaction with life. Characteristics of the neighborhood in which residents expressed a high level of satisfaction were the size of the project, access to schools, and presence of “good” people. The neighborhood characteristics creating the greatest dissatisfaction and the greatest differences between the individual scattered-site projects were access to public transportation, shopping and jobs.