110
Quality of housing is conceived in the literature as a multidimensional concept; therefore,
every method and tool to assess it depends on the
researcher’s specific perspective and conceptualization (Sinha et al. 2017). To consider all these
dimensions in an assessment is complex, and
although some good strategies have been proposed, they require an intensive collection of data
(Kain and Quigley 1970).
Collecting data regarding the amount of substandard housing in a community is crucial in
order not only to understand the proportion of
people living in such conditions but also to have
the necessary indicators in planning for sustainability. Traditional ways to identify inadequate
housing, such as survey fieldwork, have proved
to be time-consuming and expensive (Smith et al.
2003), and although some efforts have been made
to come up with a more efficient way to collect
data for assessment purposes, community organizations, small ones in particular, still struggle to
handle these approaches because of the methodological complexity or scale of analysis (Koebel
1986; Sumka 1977). Another problem facing
communities, and specifically neighborhood
associations, is the lack of resources to be rigorous when gathering data to measure inadequate
housing. These types of organizations, unless
they collaborate with other entities with resources
and knowledge, cannot make progress in their
planning for sustainability goals.
This paper presents the results and analysis of
a community-based research project in a traditional inner-city neighborhood in the Midwestern
United States. The neighborhood found itself in
need of a rigorous assessment of inadequate
housing due to its repercussions on the overall
sustainability of the area. As a response to this
problem, an academic institution, the neighborhood association, and local government officials
collaborated in an action-based research project
to provide data for planning for sustainability in
an efficient and affordable way.
Using data collected through an instrument
designed for this project, two composite indicators
3
3 The terms composite indicator and index are used interchangeably in this paper.
were created that sought to answer two basic questions: (1) At what point does housing qualify as
inadequate? (2) How many housing units in need
of rehabilitation are currently in existence? The
analysis and results show that both indices give
similar results. Both indices provided answers to
these questions, and one of them gives detailed
information about the conditions of units, which in
turn helps with planning for housing and policy
decision-making.
Statistical tests of the relationship between the
two indices confirm the validity of the indices’
results. The results of the composite indicators
are also compared and validated using housing
inspections for code violations. The findings are
relevant because of the direct impact they have on
practice by enabling communities to use existing
information to identify deteriorated housing.
Identifying inadequate housing will provide the
necessary data for decision-making in the pursuit
of funding and policymaking to help neighborhoods reverse the consequences of deteriorated
housing.
9.2
Relevant Literature
on Indicators for Measuring
Inadequate Housing
in the United States
Housing is paramount to the SDG agenda.
According to the 2017 report of the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, “Progress towards
the Sustainable Development Goals” is calculated that 1.6 billion people live in inadequate
housing. Of this number, 880 million urban residents live in slum conditions. Therefore, the
New Urban Agenda places a priority on housing
concerns, along with other issues such as
poverty.
Housing censuses are the primary sources of
disaggregated data to measure and track indicators of inadequate housing. According to the
same United Nations report mentioned above,
during the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016,
89% of countries around the world conducted
one housing census, while 25 countries did not
have such a data source.
L. Estevez
Quality of housing is conceived in the literature as a multidimensional concept; therefore,
every method and tool to assess it depends on the
researcher’s specific perspective and conceptualization (Sinha et al. 2017). To consider all these
dimensions in an assessment is complex, and
although some good strategies have been proposed, they require an intensive collection of data
(Kain and Quigley 1970).
Collecting data regarding the amount of substandard housing in a community is crucial in
order not only to understand the proportion of
people living in such conditions but also to have
the necessary indicators in planning for sustainability. Traditional ways to identify inadequate
housing, such as survey fieldwork, have proved
to be time-consuming and expensive (Smith et al.
2003), and although some efforts have been made
to come up with a more efficient way to collect
data for assessment purposes, community organizations, small ones in particular, still struggle to
handle these approaches because of the methodological complexity or scale of analysis (Koebel
1986; Sumka 1977). Another problem facing
communities, and specifically neighborhood
associations, is the lack of resources to be rigorous when gathering data to measure inadequate
housing. These types of organizations, unless
they collaborate with other entities with resources
and knowledge, cannot make progress in their
planning for sustainability goals.
This paper presents the results and analysis of
a community-based research project in a traditional inner-city neighborhood in the Midwestern
United States. The neighborhood found itself in
need of a rigorous assessment of inadequate
housing due to its repercussions on the overall
sustainability of the area. As a response to this
problem, an academic institution, the neighborhood association, and local government officials
collaborated in an action-based research project
to provide data for planning for sustainability in
an efficient and affordable way.
Using data collected through an instrument
designed for this project, two composite indicators
3
3 The terms composite indicator and index are used interchangeably in this paper.
were created that sought to answer two basic questions: (1) At what point does housing qualify as
inadequate? (2) How many housing units in need
of rehabilitation are currently in existence? The
analysis and results show that both indices give
similar results. Both indices provided answers to
these questions, and one of them gives detailed
information about the conditions of units, which in
turn helps with planning for housing and policy
decision-making.
Statistical tests of the relationship between the
two indices confirm the validity of the indices’
results. The results of the composite indicators
are also compared and validated using housing
inspections for code violations. The findings are
relevant because of the direct impact they have on
practice by enabling communities to use existing
information to identify deteriorated housing.
Identifying inadequate housing will provide the
necessary data for decision-making in the pursuit
of funding and policymaking to help neighborhoods reverse the consequences of deteriorated
housing.
9.2
Relevant Literature
on Indicators for Measuring
Inadequate Housing
in the United States
Housing is paramount to the SDG agenda.
According to the 2017 report of the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, “Progress towards
the Sustainable Development Goals” is calculated that 1.6 billion people live in inadequate
housing. Of this number, 880 million urban residents live in slum conditions. Therefore, the
New Urban Agenda places a priority on housing
concerns, along with other issues such as
poverty.
Housing censuses are the primary sources of
disaggregated data to measure and track indicators of inadequate housing. According to the
same United Nations report mentioned above,
during the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016,
89% of countries around the world conducted
one housing census, while 25 countries did not
have such a data source.
L. Estevez