Cultural Dimensions of African Immigrant Housing in Toronto: A Qualitative Insight

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of Ghanaians and Somalis in Toronto, highlighting the multifaceted interplays between their cultures, housing problems, and coping strategies. We found that, unlike the situation in their homelands where many were involved in communal living out of desire, in Toronto many are driven to live communally for reasons of cost. Also, some respondents have to either improvise, or totally forgo, various culinary practices because of the ways homes are designed in Toronto. Perhaps, no other cultural attribute was found to be more consequential in the housing decisions of our respondents than their religion; not only did it influence their choice of neighborhood and whether or not their internal living arrangements were gendered, but it also had some bearing on the acquisition of interest-laden loans for housing among many Somalis.

The Interaction of Local Context and Cultural Background: Somalis' Perceived Possibilities in Nordic Capitals' Housing Markets

“…However, the need for a mortgage conflicted with a Somali cultural background. Paying interests was seen as conflicting with the Quran in line with what Mensah & Williams (2014) had found in Toronto. Interviewees regretted the lack of banks offering Sharia-compliant mortgages.…”

“…According to Lindberg et al (1987), values are reflected in an individual's evaluation of options where different options can help or hinder the individual in maintaining values. Here we have used culture in the same way that Mensah & Williams (2014) do, in the sense that being of Somali background may affect how housing options are perceived (culture as perception) and on how choices are made, relating to norms, values and experience formed in Somali culture (culture as practice). The impact of cultural background is not static; instead it is constantly renegotiated and redefined in actual contexts (Bang Nielsen, 2004).…”

“…discrimination-oriented explanations (Dhalmann & Vilkama, 2009;Søholt & Astrup, 2009). More recently, studies have emphasised how local context interplays with cultural background in explaining Somalis' coping behaviour (Mensah & Williams, 2014). Simich et al (2004) found that in Canada, Somalis' coping behaviour is defined by a combination of their cultural belonging and the context of the receiving societies.…”

Spatial patterns of international migrant resident settlement and incorporation in Winnipeg Manitoba

“…Finally, there were significant interaction effects between the percent of multifamily households in a neighborhood and percent employment for the 2010–2011 cohort settlement (Table ), and between multifamily households, average rent, and rates of employment for the settlement of the 2001–2006 cohort (Table ). These results suggest that multifamily arrangements are an informal strategy to address failures in the more formalized employment and housing markets (Mensah & Williams, ). The importance of multifamily households for the earlier 2001–2006 cohort also suggests the need to pay attention to the possibility of a type of second settlement that begins after initial formal housing supports expire.…”

“…As examples, studies point to the ways in which social practices from places of emigration might become economic strategies in places of immigration. Mensah and Williams () describe the shifting motivations for multifamily living for Somali immigrant households in Toronto. In the opposite direction, research finds examples of economic tools such as dollar cabs or day labor centers producing new socio‐spatial arrangements that help to reduce social and political costs of migration (Best, ; Visser, Theodore, Melendez, & Valenzuela, forthcoming).…”