Home ownership for low-income people was developed to make it possible for the poor to have roof over their heads. The whole story influenced politics and social views of those with lover income.
Basics:
A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. [1]
Supporters of subsidized home-ownership programs have made claims concerning the benefits of home ownership. Home owners are said to be more involved in social and political affairs, including neighboring and participation in community organizations. The authors test these claims using longitudinal data collected on groups of low-income home buyers and low-income renters in Baltimore. The results indicate that home buyers are less likely to neighbor and are more likely to participate in neighborhood and block associations but not other community organizations. Home buyers who perceived more neighborhood problems or who emphasized economic reasons for buying were no more likely to participate in social and political affairs. [2]
A variety of public, private and non-profit organizations have developed programs to assist low-income families purchase homes. These programs are often justified on the grounds that homeownership has a number of social and-psychological benefits. On the individual level, homeowners are said to enjoy higher social status and self-esteem, increased sense of control, and higher levels of life satisfaction. On the societal level, homeowners are said to have higher rates of participation in voluntary organizations and local social interaction. The longitudinal research described in this article assesses the validity of these claims by comparing changes in self esteem, perceived control, life satisfaction and social interaction between a group of low-income home buyers and a demographically similar group of continuing renters. The results show that home ownership has a positive and significant impact on both the life satisfaction and participation in neighborhood and block association meetings. Home ownership, however, was not found to significantly affect self-esteem, perceived control or informal social interaction in the local area. [3]
A variety of claims have been made concerning the social benefits of homeownership. This paper describes research designed to assess the impacts of homeownership on the self-esteem, perceived control and life satisfaction of low-income persons. The longitudinal study assessed changes in these three constructs, pre- and post ownership, and compared them to those in a control group of continuing renters. The findings indicate that, relative to the control group, those in the homeowner group did not experience a significant increase in self-esteem or sense of control. They did, however, experience a significant increase in life satisfaction. Moreover, housing condition, regardless of tenure, was found to influence both self-esteem and life satisfaction. The policy implications of the results are discussed. [4]
Claims that homeownership is beneficial to both owners and society have not been examined empirically. This article explores evidence from the General Social Survey and the National Survey of Families and Households, supplemented by data from the American National Election Studies and several small but highly relevant researches, to determine whether owners and renters differ in a variety of ways.
Strong differences in demographics were found. Small differences were found in some respects: Owners tended to be higher in life satisfaction and self‐esteem and more likely to be members of community improvement groups. On a wide variety of social issues—from political partisanship to ethnocentric views—owners and renters were essentially alike. Thus, it appears that the claims for some social and individual benefits from homeownership are supported, but only weakly. Recognizing that the exploratory analyses presented are not definitive, several strategies for more definitive future research are recommended. [5]
This paper reviews the literature that describes the micro-level economic and social consequences of homeownership. We adopt an interdisciplinary approach and include studies from economics, sociology, geography, political science, psychology, and other disciplines. Our focus is on the set of consequences of homeownership in developed countries. Our list of potential outcomes of homeownership includes the impact on household wealth and portfolio choice, mobility, labor force participation, urban structure and segregation, home maintenance, political and social activities, health, demographics, self-esteem, and child outcomes. There is substantial evidence that homeownership has important effects on some household behaviors and outcomes. However, we find that much of the past 30-year’s literature on consequences of homeowning is deficient from a theoretical or econometric perspective. We suggest solutions and identify research gaps present in the literature. [6]
Homeownership for the poor increasingly is on the political agenda in the United States. This is due largely to the assumptions made by policy makers and citizens about the benefits of homeownership. Despite this emphasis in recent administrations, little theoretical literature has been developed that specifies the impact of homeownership on community development. This essay reviews relevant theoretical and empirical literature and suggests that homeownership affects communities through the promotion of increased wealth accumulation, improved property upkeep, decreased residential mobility, and increased community participation. This article addresses the special needs of poor communities and households, and the implications for low-income housing policy. Overall it is suggested that community economic development and low-income homeownership be pursued in tandem. [7]
Conclusion:
Poor communities and households are in great need of affordable homes (future home buyers go here and browse the inventory http://www.reiq.com) and being a home owner definitely means greater involment in a local community and its development. This is an item that can greatly be used in political campaigns and hopefully satisy both sides-politicians and home-owners.
References:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home
[2] “The Impact of Home Ownership on the Social and Political Involvement of Low-Income People” by: William M. Rohe, Michael A. Stegman
[3] “Low-Income Persons” by: William M. Rohe, Victoria Basolo
[4] “The Effects of Homeownership: on the Self-Esteem, Perceived Control and Life Satisfaction of Low-Income People” by: William M. Rohe & Michael A. Stegman
[5] “The social benefits of homeownership: Empirical evidence from national surveys”
by: Peter H. Rossia & Eleanor Weberb
[6] “The social and private micro-level consequences of homeownership” by: Robert D. Dietza, Donald R. Haurin
[7] “Low-Income Homeownership Policy as a Community Development Strategy” by: Edward Scanion MSW
