Exploring the relationship between housing conditions and capabilities: a qualitative case study of private hostel residents

Irving, Adele

Abstract

While housing can facilitate many of the freedoms associated with a ‘well-lived’ life, the Capabilities Approach (CA) is yet to have transformed housing research and evaluation. This paper explores the relationship between housing conditions and well-being, using Nussbaum’s version of the CA as the basis for analysis. It draws on data from a UK-based qualitative study of the experiences of individuals residing in privately-run hostels in the North of England. The analysis reveals much diversity in terms of the ways in which the residents perceived their housing conditions and the impacts of these on their exercise of key functions, despite all living in similar environmental conditions. This highlights the highly subjective and complex nature of the relationship between housing conditions and well-being. It is argued that a more robust understanding of the key factors that mediate the relationship being investigated is needed if the potential of the CA to advance housing research and evaluation is to be further realized.

Citation

Irving, A. (2023). Exploring the relationship between housing conditions and capabilities: a qualitative case study of private hostel residents. Housing Studies, 38(6), 985-1005. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2021.1928004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 13, 2021
• Publication Date: Jul 3, 2023
• Deposit Date: Dec 19, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 1, 2024
• Journal: Housing Studies
• Print ISSN: 0267-3037
• Electronic ISSN: 1466-1810
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 985-1005
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2021.1928004
• Keywords: Urban Studies; Sociology and Political Science; Environmental Science (miscellaneous)