Abstract:Key Messages
Low‐income, one‐person, non‐senior households experience significant housing insecurity and homelessness in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
This population has limited income and job opportunities and faces lower levels of assistance and fewer rental housing options.
This is a result of changing economic and social geographies, a gendered and colonial welfare state that has focused on “deserving” families, a neoliberal political economy, and neoliberal discourses.
“…Locations/distribution of market rental and public housing units in the CBRM.SOURCES: Leviten‐Reid (2016); Province of Nova Scotia (2020a, 2020b). …”
Market‐based rentals are increasingly prioritized as the tenure type through which to provide housing assistance to low‐income households: it is argued that public housing places tenants in neighbourhoods with concentrated poverty, while the private sector is purported to offer households the opportunity to live in locations with less disadvantage. We test this assumption through a case study of a Nova Scotian municipality. Using chi‐square tests to examine associations between housing type and neighbourhood deprivation, we find that while 47% of public units are located in places with high social and economic deprivation, one‐third of market rentals are located in neighbourhoods with similar characteristics. In addition, in looking at the location of lower‐cost market units in particular, we find limited differences in the neighbourhood characteristics in which these more affordable rentals and public housing are found. We argue for the importance of connecting policy and programming to place‐based community development and poverty‐reduction strategies to support low‐income households.
“…Locations/distribution of market rental and public housing units in the CBRM.SOURCES: Leviten‐Reid (2016); Province of Nova Scotia (2020a, 2020b). …”
Market‐based rentals are increasingly prioritized as the tenure type through which to provide housing assistance to low‐income households: it is argued that public housing places tenants in neighbourhoods with concentrated poverty, while the private sector is purported to offer households the opportunity to live in locations with less disadvantage. We test this assumption through a case study of a Nova Scotian municipality. Using chi‐square tests to examine associations between housing type and neighbourhood deprivation, we find that while 47% of public units are located in places with high social and economic deprivation, one‐third of market rentals are located in neighbourhoods with similar characteristics. In addition, in looking at the location of lower‐cost market units in particular, we find limited differences in the neighbourhood characteristics in which these more affordable rentals and public housing are found. We argue for the importance of connecting policy and programming to place‐based community development and poverty‐reduction strategies to support low‐income households.
“…Another example was that of the town of Warren, Michigan which offered General Motors a 30-year tax abatement incentive to relocate its headquarters from Detroit to Warren; the bid was also ultimately unsuccessful (Lin et al, 2017). Some local governments that have successfully attracted such companies with these incentives unfortunately experienced huge unemployment and inflation rates because these companies left much earlier than was expected (Adua & Lobao, 2015;Leviten-Reid & Parker, 2018;Cleave et al, 2019).…”
Section: Stream 1: Reasoned Arguments On Why Economic Gardening Is Anmentioning
Economic Gardening is an innovative economic development strategy whereby local businesses are fostered and encouraged, and the skills of local workers are upgraded. Since its inception in Littleton, Colorado in 1989, this concept has been put forward by various scholars as a viable and more sustainable economic development strategy than the traditional business attraction strategy. Various implementation experiences have provided further evidence of its effectiveness in improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of a community. This paper charts a roadmap for the development and future implementation of an economic gardening strategy for a Nigerian local government whose officials have shown an interest in adopting such a strategy. A seven-step process was adopted from a review of economic gardening scholarship: 1) Working hand-in-hand with local government officials and other stakeholders, 2) Identifying the community’s assets, 3) Developing a collaborative effort amongst all stakeholders, 4) Developing a clear and transparent operating agreement, 5) Identifying the key targets for services, 6) Developing an effective way to deliver these services, and 7) Communicating regularly with the community so as to gain and retain their support. A lack of political will and a lack of adequate infrastructure were identified as the two biggest obstacles to the successful implementation of the economic gardening strategy in the local government. The first obstacle was mitigated by the fact that it was the local government officials who approached our team to develop the strategy, whilst the second obstacle was mitigated by a proposal for the development of a solar farm within the local government via a public-private partnership with an international solar firm. It is hoped that a successful implementation of this strategy will improve the lives of the inhabitants of the local government and serve as an example for other Nigerian local governments.
Purpose
This study aims to make two major contributions. First, given the literature gap in housing unaffordability for different immigrant groups in Canada, it makes an essential contribution to the literature. To the best of the knowledge, this study is the first study of its kind to examine housing unaffordability by examining different immigrant groups. Second, differences in unaffordability can help understand the decline in welfare, as it can have financial implications and a negative impact on health outcomes. Third, this study’s findings are valuable for policy formulation to improve immigrant integration and ease the housing unaffordability crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines the determinants of housing affordability to investigate differences among various immigrant groups in Canada. A bivariate logit model using public microdata from the Canadian census estimates the determinants of moderate and severe unaffordability. Additionally, the separation of tenants and owners provides insights into the dynamics of unaffordability. The results show significant differences between immigrant groups with higher levels of unaffordability among Asian immigrants. The insights can help devise and implement housing assistance programs to address the challenges arising from the post-COVID-19 pandemic phase.
Findings
The results indicate that unaffordability declines with increasing age, education and full-time employment. Gender dynamics are evident, with women faring worse than men regarding the likelihood of extreme housing unaffordability. Households face a greater likelihood of unaffordability in more populous provinces and larger census metropolitan areas that struggle with the high cost of living, racial disparities and low income. Immigrants, especially from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, continue to struggle with chronic and severe unaffordability issues. The impact is much more severe for those renting, exemplifying the strain it is taking on the financial health of recent immigrants.
Originality/value
Given the literature gap in housing unaffordability for different immigrant groups in Canada, it makes an essential contribution to the literature. To the best of the knowledge, this study is the first study of its kind to examine housing unaffordability by examining different immigrant groups.
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