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Addressing spatial concentrations of social disadvantage

Summary

Project Number: MYRP704
Research Theme: Public_and_community_housing, Social_wellbeing, Urban_planning_and_development
Project Leader: Pawson, Hal
Funding Year: 2011
Research Centre: Queensland, Swinburne-Monash, UNSW-UWS

Description

Three overarching issues will be considered through the MYRP:

1. How concentrations of social disadvantage have been conceptualised and how this relates to our broader understanding of the operation and impacts of housing and urban systems.
2. The impacts of spatial disadvantage, and the importance of housing and place in mediating the incidence and experience of residents of disadvantaged areas.
3. How policy, practitioners and communities can respond to spatial disadvantage in 'best for people, best for place' terms.

Spatial disadvantage is not a tenure-specific concern

A focus on localities with a high proportion of social housing and estate renewal activity is warranted. However, it is vital that the socio-spatial dynamics of disadvantage are understood within a whole-of-housing system framework.

Geography and scale matters

Housing and place act as anchors for policy, as well as mediating the effects of a variety of drivers and impacts of concentrations of disadvantage across a range of spatial scales. Policy is inherently spatial – we need a better understanding of the role of housing policy and programs in either exacerbating or mitigating concentrations of disadvantage.

Not all disadvantaged areas are the same

Socio Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) scores, on their own, fail to highlight the different roles and functions that lower income/lower value areas play in their wider spatial, housing market and economic contexts. Not all deprived areas are the same; nor are they all problematic. We need to better understand (and work with) this diversity.

Experiences of disadvantage are diverse

Greater insight is required into the behavioural aspects of disadvantage, for diverse individuals and households living in disadvantaged areas, and in various housing market positions.

Social exclusion is a question of justice

Housing policy agendas concerned with social exclusion look for solutions in terms of access, relocating people and reconnecting with restructured labour markets. These objectives remain important, but it is also important to address social equity issues through providing ongoing assistance to vulnerable disadvantaged communities.

We need to know which policies have worked

Diversity across and within deprived localities requires a range of policy and practice responses that are varied, integrated and attuned to the dynamic nature of urban systems and functions. We need to know what policies have worked (and have not), and further develop approaches to considering disadvantage in our cities that are integrated across housing, planning, infrastructure and inclusion agendas.

AHURI events involving this project

• Concentrations of disadvantage in Australia's cities: key questions and hypotheses — Canberra, Wed 14 Mar 2012

More Information

Research Paper: Feasibility study to undertake a Multi-Year Research Project
636KB PDF Document