Housing motivated youth in low-income neighborhoods: How practitioners shape conditions for encounters across diversity in ‘intentional’ social mix programs in Milan and Paris

ABSTRACT

The concept of social mix has been thoroughly examined in the housing literature. Research to date finds little evidence of encounters between socially diverse residents living in mixed settings. This paper provides comparative insights into new, socially mixed housing initiatives in Milan and Paris that have been conceived to promote encounters among diverse residents. Both initiatives, implemented by not-for-profit organizations, provide affordable housing for university students or young professionals in low-income social housing neighborhoods in exchange for their commitment to organize solidarity activities with and for their social housing neighbors. The paper examines how frameworks provided by housing practitioners for “intentional” encounters between motivated youth and low-income residents shape these encounters and considers the receptivity of the youth population to intentionally engage in common projects across diversity. It distils some core conditions within these programs that promote encounters among diverse residents.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the editors and the anonymous reviewers, whose constructive comments and suggestions helped to improve earlier drafts of this manuscript. We are also grateful to all the professionals and residents who took part in the interviews, making this research possible.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Igor Costarelli

Igor Costarelli holds a PhD in urban studies from University of Milan Bicocca in co-tutorship with Delft University of Technology. He is a post-doc fellow at the Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Milan Bicocca. His research focuses on social mix, residential segregation, social housing management, housing and urban renewal policy.

Talia Melic

Talia Melic is a PhD candidate in urban geography with the University of Melbourne, in co-tutorship with Université Paris-Est. She is a member of the ARC Life Course Centre and Laboratoire Lab’urba. Her research focuses on mixed-income housing, urban encounters, housing theory and policy, and urban social relations.