Identification of indicators of urban affordable housing location choice for low-income households: a Delphi analysis

ABSTRACT

The rapid growth of urbanization has resulted in an unprecedented housing crisis, particularly in developing nations. Tackling housing challenges is essential for the sustainable development of cities. One of the prime challenges in this domain is the identification of suitable locations for developing affordable housing projects. This research aims to identify the indicators that affect the choice of affordable housing locations for low-income households. Through exploration of relevant literature, a comprehensive list of 48 indicators was identified and classified into five categories; neighborhood embedded characteristics, urban characteristics, economic context, and social and housing characteristics. The Delphi method was adopted to gain consensus on the parameters identified. To encompass diverse viewpoints, experts were chosen from five metropolitan cities, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Mumbai, and Chennai, representing five geographical zones across India; criteria for selection included expertise in affordable housing, low-income housing, or sustainable development. 36 indicators gained consensus through a two-round Delphi survey with 0.71 as the value of Kendall’s coefficient of Concordance. The parameters of mobility, high employment opportunities, and proximity to various facilities were found to be significant when considering location choice. The indicators determined can help identify the relative locations of affordable housing development in urban areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Affordable housing
• Delphi
• indicators
• location choice
• urbanization

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any funding.

Notes on contributors

Nishat Afshan

Nishat Afshan is an Architect and Urban Planner currently pursuing PhD in the Department of Architecture and Planning at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.

Rajan Chandra Sinha

Rajan Chandra Sinha is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Planning, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India. He graduated in Architecture with a Post-Graduation in Urban Planning. His research interest and publications are focused on varied housing issues, urban planning, sustainable architecture, and disaster management planning.