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Title

Social capital and housing tenure in an Adelaide neighbourhood

Author(s)

Ziersch, Anna;  Arthurson, Kathy

Abstract

In this article we compare and contrast elements of social capital across different housing tenures in an Adelaide neighbourhood. Using the results of 530 self-completion questionnaires and in-depth qualitative interviews with 16 people we assess perceptions of conflict across housing tenures and between socio-economic groups, feelings of acceptance and belonging in the local neighbourhood, and levels of involvement in local formal and informal networks. While only a small number of questionnaire respondents reported negative views of socio-economic diversity in the area a theme emerging in the qualitative data indicated that housing tenure was relevant to some of these negative perceptions. Respondents from across different tenure types also reported differences in feelings of acceptance in the neighbourhood, and involvement in formal and informal networks. The study findings suggest that housing tenure is relevant to the development of neighbourhood-based social capital, and that this factor needs to be considered by social planners, housing policy makers and others involved in implementing social mix policies. In addition, the findings indicate the need to consider the community housing and public housing tenures in their own right, given the different models of housing provision, rather than collectively under the common banner of social housing as most research studies do. It is recommended that the full diversity of housing tenure is considered in any future analysis.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Institute for Social Research

Source

Urban Policy and Research, Vol. 25, no. 4 (Dec 2007), pp. 409-431

Publication year

2007

Keyword(s)

Australia;  Housing;  Housing tenure;  Infrastructure;  Neighbourhood;  Social capital;  Social groups

Publisher

Routledge

ISSN

0811-1146

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08111140701665831

Copyright

Copyright © 2007 Editorial Board, Urban Policy and Research. Accepted manuscript of the paper reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. This is an electronic version of an article published as: Ziersch, A., & Arthuson, K. (2007). Social capital and housing tenure in an Adelaide neighbourhood. Urban Policy and Research 25 (4), 409-431. The definitive version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08111140701665831.

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