Understanding Housing Satisfaction among Low-Income Groups: Challenges and Complexities

Abstract

The quality of life of people depends on quality of habitation through proper housing. Low-income population come across with number of hitches in acquiring adequate housing. There are several issues due to the combination of economic, social, and policy-related aspects. This study explores the conceptual dimensions of housing satisfaction among low-income groups of the population, concentrating on both the physical aspects of the dwelling units and the social living environment of their residential backgrounds. Due to the limited financial resources, the low-income groups facing difficulty to afford adequate housing, especially in urban areas where the cost of land and construction costs are high. Their living conditions are overcrowded and poorly constructed informal settlements. These settlements and temporary shelters lack basic facilities such as hygienic water, proper sanitation, electricity, and waste management system. The housing stability of these people are affected by insecure tenure, eviction threat, and documentation irregularities. Furthermore, these low-income groups are excluded from the credit systems of the nation. The awareness regarding public housing schemes, its eligibility conditions, procedure for application etc. deter their capability to improve the living conditions. Understanding housing satisfaction is generally regarded as a tool for social change. This discourse, empowers the policy makers to design better housing policies and schemes for the betterment of the society. The selection of the methodology adopted for understanding housing satisfaction of the low-income population required to be standardized by stressing the subjective factors, multidimensional aspects, and contextual nature of this concept. Through the systematic exploration of the satisfaction towards housing, the society can deliver decent housing for better human lives.