Investigating social sustainability in public housing

Abstract

Social sustainability plays an important role in improving life quality as it can foster good relations between community members. However, this phenomenon, the main goal of which is to enhance residents’ wellbeing, has not been given enough consideration in the housing sector. A study was undertaken to assess social sustainability in public housing projects with different spatial organisation in Jordan. This was achieved through an exploratory mixed-method approach that utilised four case studies of public housing projects. Spatial analysis was done for each research setting based on design criteria extracted from sustainability principles, including housing type and affordability, compact development, mixed land use, public spaces, schools, access to quality transit and walkability. A total of 474 responses were collected from residents of selected case studies to try to understand social sustainability in these residential neighbourhoods. Social sustainability was identified through six indicators: social equity, social capital, collective group and network, community stability, pride and sense of place and safety and security. The results showed that spatial organisation and design criteria have a major or significant effect on social sustainability. They also indicated that other variables affect social sustainability, including length of residency, ownership and proper relationship between housing unit space and family size.