The Potentials of a Strong Social Housing Sector: The Case of Turks and Somalis in the Copenhagen Housing Market

Abstract

The paper investigates ethnic minority concentration within social housing and the potentials of a strong social housing sector through an analysis of the housing careers of Somalis and Turks in Copenhagen. In a Danish context, the two ethnic groups differ greatly with respect to migration history, socio-economic resources and family characteristics as well as distribution between tenures. It is therefore interesting to study whether these differences lead to differences in housing market choices and constraints. The majority of the interviewed Somalis and Turks made their housing careers within the social housing sector, which to the interviewees offered good housing options and possibilities for shaping their own housing careers. The majority of the Somalis perceived paying interest as being incompatible with Islam. Renting thus allowed them to adhere to their religious beliefs. The advantages of the social housing sector limited the pull of owner-occupied housing. The paper thus questions the use of the home-ownership gap as an indication of a lack of ethnic minority integration.

From Passive to Active: A Multiplayer Economic Integration Process of Turkish Immigrants in Berlin

“…Therefore, the immigrants' passion to work hard and to improve their living condition in Oslo is weak [27]. Similar to the previous study, Copenhagen provides immigrants with diversified desirable social houses, which has decreased the Turkish and Somali immigrants' passion to learn more skills, find higher-paid jobs, and live in a more integrated community [28]. Therefore, hospitable policies for lower-skill immigrants may instead impede their economic integration.…”

Spatial design in recent housing developments in Copenhagen: a perspective of social mix and mixing

“…Today, social diversity has turned into a global issue as people from different backgrounds move to major urban centres, particularly for survival, employment and education (Skovgaard Nielsen et al ., 2017). This movement takes place across different districts, cities and countries as people seek better opportunities for living.…”

Liberal Governmentality and Urban Culture: Governing Differences and Diversity in the Policies of Helsinki and Sydney

“…In recent years, there has been an interest in developing governance theories and concepts that address the differences within and between people learning to live together (Skovgaard Nielsen et al 2016;Fincher et al 2014). Cities, their administrative sectors, and councils play a crucial role in advancing the new urban governmentality and governmental rationality (Appadurai 2001: 25).…”

“…Cities, their administrative sectors, and councils play a crucial role in advancing the new urban governmentality and governmental rationality (Appadurai 2001: 25). According to Skovgaard Nielsen et al (2016), "diversity" means the coexistence of various socioeconomic, demographic, ethnic, and cultural groups within a certain space such as a city or neighborhood (Skovgaard Nielsen et al 2016: 11). This article adopts Huttunen et al's (2022) way of thinking about "diversity and difference" as its analytical frame.…”