Housing Workers’ Evaluations of Residential Environmental Quality in South Korean Welfare Housing for Low-Income, Single-Parent Families

Abstract

This study evaluates the spatial conditions of the residential environment in welfare housing built for low-income, single-parent (LISP) families in South Korea to reveal the significant residential environmental (RE) design criteria concerning housing quality and family well-being. The primary data were analyzed by surveying 30 housing directors from 29 welfare residences, in conjunction with facility visits and interviews. The survey data were supplemented by interviewing 11 stakeholders, including government institute officials, project architects, and former residents who exited the program. A statistical analysis examined the RE quality in relation to building and resident features. Most respondents reported insufficient physical quality, specifically due to inappropriate units in size and number; poor indoor noise control; and substandard unit rooms, children’s rooms, and outdoor spaces. Furthermore, adequate rooms, family privacy, and a pleasant indoor environment (i.e., noise barrier, thermal comfort) were the most critical spatial design criteria. Particularly, the aforementioned housing environmental attributes were found to be different depending on a building’s construction year and type, householder type and age, and children’s age. Practical and methodological implications and future research directions are discussed to elevate the housing quality and sustainable well-being in welfare housing.