Low-Income Housing

Abstract

Residential satisfaction,both in terms of dwelling unit satisfaction and neighborhood satisfaction, was analyzed in relation to type of structure, previous housing experience, social participation, housing aspirations, and social psychological perspectives. Interviews were conducted with 257 occupants of low income housing units located in 33 different projects throughout South Carolina. While a high degree of satisfaction was found for both components of residential satisfaction, it was greater for the housing unit than the neighborhood. A high degree of housing satisfaction was found to be significantly related to owning the dwelling, living in a single rather than multiple family unit, positive sentiments toward neighbors, a short duration in present residence, and a positive life orientation. Degree of crowding, amount of payments, location to relatives and friends, and being a renter were not found to affect this satisfaction. No relationships were found between neighborhood satisfaction and either length of residence there or length of residence in previous neighborhood.