Abstract The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have made commendable contributions to social housing over the past century. The successful collaboration of nonprofit builders has resulted in low-cost and efficient social housing in these countries. This paper shows that perhaps the most notable achievement is that housing at affordable prices is easily available to people who need it and, more importantly, at the time they need housing. Many other developed countries, including the Unites States, are struggling to provide acceptable levels of social housing and trying to copy the successful community housing models of European countries.
Paper Outline
Social Housing in Europe
Social Housing in Britain
Housing Associations in Britain
Social Housing in the Netherlands
Housing Associations in the Netherlands
Private Rented Housing Conclusion
From the Paper "In many European cities, low-cost housing is taken for granted; for instance in Tillburg in the Netherlands with a population of 165,000, a single association owns as much as 51 percent of the housing. Rentals charges by this association is only half or maximum two-thirds of market rates. Even in London, one of the high cost cities in the world, housing project developers are required to have 25 to 35 percent of the newly built units in the affordable category. (Johnson, Building a Better City: Europe's Affordable Housing Standard). A unique feature in these countries is the successful integration of "affordable" housing with "market-rate" housing in the same location, which means that people with high and low incomes live together and there is no social stigma attached to such practice."
Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine some of the general policies and history of Housing Connections, a social housing provider in Toronto, Ontario. Those policies are referenced to some of the more basic changes made under the Social Housing Reform Act (2000) before being compared to the policies of another Toronto-based social housing provider, Toronto Community Housing. The end goal is to provide readers with a basic understanding of the role and function of social housing providers within the Toronto area. Specifically, the benefits and limitations of Housing Connections are expanded upon.
Abstract This paper discusses affordable housing and what the involvement of the community and the black church should be on this issue. The writer looks at programs including Habitat for Humanity to define the ways that the community can become involved in providing affordable housing to its residents who are in need.
From the paper:
"There is an ongoing effort to attract African Americans to the affordable housing development industry. In Sacramento California an internship program was piloted that matched minority students to non-profit housing organizations. African American churches and communities could easily use this idea for their own memberships to encourage social understanding and involvement in the ongoing need for affordable housing (Ware, 1998). "
Abstract The objective of this paper is to examine the status and condition of African-Americans as compared to whites in the area of housing. The city of Chicago is used as a specific example, both historically and presently, in relation to access to and cost of affordable housing. The paper includes statistical information which highlights the proportion and number of both groups that occupy public and privately owned housing, the median/average monthly payment for housing. Finally this work reviews how these facts relate to the overall lives of African-American living in the United States.
Table of Contents
Objective
Historical Chicago Housing Facts
Covenants
The Gautreaux Case
Recent Studies and Their Findings
Summary & Conclusion
From the Paper "Seitles claims that integration has been a success in the fight against racial prejudice and states that: "Social consequences of racial isolation intertwine with grim economic realities for minorities. Due to the lack of interaction between racial groups, African-Americans are unprepared to work and socialize in a white majority society, while conversely, whites are not relating to, working with, or living with blacks. Prospects for African-American children raised in such communities are greatly diminished because of the lack of interaction between blacks and whites. Moreover, minority possibilities for advancement consequently decline from the lower quality of education afforded to them in ghetto schools, precluding them from competing for high-income employment. Although these inequalities are not always directly caused by intentional discrimination, residential racial segregation perpetuates these inequalities. Thus, minorities who live in racially homogeneous communities are faced with disadvantages beyond the present economic and social inequalities associated with minority neighborhoods." (Seitles, 1996)"
Abstract This paper reviews Sandra Cisneros' novel, "The House on Mango Street", by focusing on the symbol of a house as presented in the book. According to the reviewer, a house is used as a symbol of comfort, freedom and self-expression instead of as a physical space. Quotes from the book are used to illustrate this thesis. The reviewer further examines the protagonist Esperanza and her views of a house. The author concludes that a house is a symbol of escape for Esperanza.
From the Paper "Not only is the house important, but the conditions that caused them to move around so often are also worth pondering. It is because the family couldn't afford a house of their own that they had to move in and out of various houses. That intensified the desire of the family to have a house of their house especially Esperanza whose desire is most pronounced. Esperanza, the protagonist of the novel, is a young child whose sense of self respect is often dented by the humiliating comments made by others. She grows up believing that her sense of self worth is closely connected with having a house of her own- a white house "with trees around it, a great big yard and grass growing without a fence" (p. 8)"
Tags: Sandra, Cisneros, The, House, on, Mango, Street
Abstract The paper discusses how the subsidized housing situation in Chicago is growing bleak, as it is doing in many of America's urban communities. The paper explains that the combination of a reduction in public housing and the increasing reliance on Section 8 has caused public housing situations to become critical. The paper notes that some have seen this development as an opportunity to segregate and a lawsuit has been filed to that effect. The paper discusses that whether or not this kind of accusation has a foundation in the truth is a subject of its own, but maintains that regardless of this, public housing is becoming scarcer and cities like Chicago will feel the negative effect more than most.
Abstract This paper examines the relationship between the housing industry and the Canadian economy by looking at how supply and demand effect housing starts, employment and GDP production and growth. It looks at how housing prices vary from region to region across the country and how the housing market plays a crucial role in the Canadian economy.
From the Paper "The housing industry in Canada is impacted by fluctuations in the economy and changes in supply and demand. Neoclassical consumer theory is used to demonstrate the relationship between the housing market and the economy. Recent industry and market reports suggest that the Canadian economy is growing at a strong rate and accounting for an increased share of the country's total economic output. Introduction The housing industry is a significant component of the Canadian economy as low mortgage rates and strong growth in employment and personal income have led to an increase in housing demand ("The Canadian Housing" 1)."
Abstract This paper examines the housing industry from an economic perspective. Various factors that affect housing are considered, such as the impact of price elasticity on the housing market and supply and demand. The author also explores other issues such as wage inequality and inflation. The author concludes by citing the economy's overall influence on the housing industry.
Price Elasticity
Negative and Positive Externalizes
Wage Inequality
Monetary and Fiscal Policies
From the Paper "There are several factors that can influence the housing industry economically. Supply and demand coupled with price elasticity can affect the housing industry. Negative and positive externalities, wage inequality, and the monetary and fiscal policies can all have substantial affect the industry of new homes. It must also be determined exactly how the economy affects the industry in both positive and negative ways."
Abstract In this paper, the author examines the use of symbolism in "The Fall of the House of Usher" and the themes that run throughout the story. The paper takes a look at the the duality of the house which comes to represent family and home.
From the Paper "The genre of Romanticism is essential to cultural and literary history; its popularity can be attributed to humanity's fascination with the dark and unknown and also its profound interest in the pain and downfall of others. Edgar Allan Poe was instrumental in establishing the foundation of Romanticism that is best known today; his works concern themselves primarily with the occult and the enigmas prevalent within the human psyche. His story "The Fall of the House of Usher" details the psychological and physical demise of the family Usher; Poe translates atmosphere and setting into the characters in the story, and also transfers human qualities into the actual house, which comes to function as a symbol of the Usher family. The title of the story also represents a duality; ultimately, the house is physically destroyed, as is the family. The house of Usher is clearly the personification of the Usher family; the house symbolizes the Usher family's decline into madness and the eventual demise of the family."
Abstract This thesis examines the reasons why blacks live in housing inferior to their white counterparts in the state of Maryland. The paper starts by giving a historical legal analysis, covering discrimination in housing from the late 1800s to today. The paper then discusses the numerous methods used to discriminate against African-Americans. The author looks at issues such as restrictive covenants, residential segregation ordinances, red lining and other real estate practices and the various forms of intimidation. The author looks at the impact of federal laws, and discusses the fact that the laws enacted by the U.S. government are not enough to rectify the housing situation of African-Americans living in Maryland.
From the Paper "Corresponding to whites, blacks are more prone to have a lesser rate of home possession and to reside overfull, older, segregated, meager quality housing in essential cities of Maryland. So as to locate homes comparable to those of whites, blacks have got to recompense more and need to prevail over obstacles of either restrained or direct forms of racial prejudice. Statistics show that even today, in the State of Maryland, access to passable housing takes place along a color scale. Asians, for instance, have enhanced access to passable housing than other racial minorities, after that Hispanics and thereafter, American Indians. Blacks, generally, have not as much access to passable housing than other racial minorities in America, and black female-headed households have the least amount of access amongst all the minority groups."
Abstract The paper discusses urban sustainability. The paper focuses on social housing and sustainable cities and examines housing issues as a whole. The paper shows why no one wants to build rental or social housing. The paper then argues that if you want to fix these problems, it is necessary to use economic incentives.
From the Paper "Housing in Canada is a very contentious issue. Many people in Canada view housing as a basic need. However, other Canadian's see housing as a product like any other, to be bought and sold for the profit of developers. This paper will take the position that housing is a basic need for all human beings to have and that as long as people don't have adequate housing, sustainable development will be impossible. In order to make this argument, it is first necessary to look at why housing is important. Then we will progress into a discussion of the housing situation in Canada. The final part of the argument will focus on social housing."
Abstract Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed houses which were known as "Prairie School" because of their distinct style. This paper traces the history and the reason why this form of architecture came about, and how it was a reflection of a developing American trend of modernism.
From the Paper "One of the most striking things about Wright's houses is their lack of porches. They sink gracefully and beautifully into the ground ? and how can we fault them for this? ? but they also turn their backs on their neighbors. These are houses into which individual families can shut themselves away ? the first sign in at least a psychological sense of the suburbanization of America."
Abstract This paper looks at the rental market in the United States, senior citizens' requirements and the housing marking in Newark, New Jersey. With each issue the paper shows how the market has changed and how the government is meeting these changing needs. It shows, for example, that in the past few years, authorities have authorized the rehabilitation of over 2500 housing units in Newark in a bid to revitalize the city.
From the Paper "In the 1990's many apartment firms and multifamily firms were forced to focus on creating value from their property management. Owners no longer enjoyed ?automatic profit in rental housing (Dober, 1996).? Renters demanded ?more from the apartment company in services, amenities and conveniences (Dober, 1996).? The lower interest rates allowed more renters the opportunity to purchase their own homes, creating a soft rental market. Management firms concentrated on providing better service to the residents, while lowering the costs, in an effort to keep their units rented.
Since 2000, the economy has been extremely unstable. Numerous plant closings have left many without jobs, causing the numbers of foreclosures to rise. Although interest rates continue to fall, uncertainties about their financial futures and the possibility of relocation are causing many people to rent, instead of purchasing homes."
Abstract This study examines the history and national trends of poverty rates for senior citizens and compares them to the statewide levels in Minnesota. Projections of the senior population and income levels are examined to see if they are increasing or decreasing. Poverty can be measured by any of the following: absolute, U.S. government (officially sanctioned level for means tested programs), and relative. This study examines official poverty levels of seniors in comparison to being able to purchase a median-priced home and the availability of the U. S. government's Section 8 subsidized housing programs.
Introduction
Research Question
Literature Review
Theoretical Framework
Results
Implications
Limitations
Recommendations
Conclusions
Bibliography/References
Appendix
From the Paper "The history of the current Federal Government's Section 8 housing programs can be traced to the civil rights movements in the early 1960's. The 1968 Housing Act states that everyone no matter race, color, age or religion is entitled to equal housing. This section 8 program gives vouchers to each state in the USA and the Federal Government funds these. Minnesota uses these vouchers to subsidize rent for means tested participants. These rental units can be in multi-family apartments or in single-family stand-alone homes. Property owners that participate in this program agree to meet certain minimum housing standards in exchange for rent and incentives (low rate of interest on mortgage or lower taxes)."
Abstract This paper examines the origins and purpose of the settlement houses that began appearing in the United States during the Progressive Era of the early twentieth century.
From the Paper "The Progressive Era was marked by an invigorated middle class to which things besides the excesses of industrial and land acquisition were newly important. Middle-class and upper-middle-class reformers appear to have sought to improve the lot of the less fortunate classes that had populated and were continuing to populate the industrial urban centers of the United States. The settlement-house phenomenon was a significant response to the problems of the lower classes in that context. The origins of the American settlement-house movement were actually in England where in Toynbee Hall..."
