Scattered-Site Public Housing and Housing Satisfaction: Implications for the New Public Housing Program

Abstract

Can public housing authorities (PHAs) raise the satisfaction levels of residents by pursuing a scattered-site policy, or by revitalizing existing “projects”? To address these and related issues, we apply both crosstabular and regression analysis to the results of 211 telephone interviews with residents of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) family housing. The crosstabular results fail to support the hypothesis that those in single-family, scattered-site units are most likely to be satisfied. However, multiple regression analysis, with other variables controlled, shows that such housing indirectly promotes satisfaction through more neighborhood social interaction. The total effect on satisfaction is minimal, however, because of the indirect path of influence. Six other factors besides public housing type promote satisfaction, either directly or indirectly: age, housing cost burden, welfare recipiency, major housing problems (inversely), satisfaction with CMHA tenant involvement policies, and neighborhood social interaction. The results suggest the need, as housing is restructured, to balance adding scattered-site units and comprehensive revitalization of existing central city developments, and to address management, neighborhood issues, and physical housing conditions.