Social networks in public and community housing: the impact on employment outcomes

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Date
2005
Authors
Ziersch, Anna Marie
Arthurson, Kathy
Journal Title
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Volume Title
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Editorial Board, Urban Policy and Research, published by Taylor & Francis
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Copyright © 2005 Editorial Board, Urban Policy and Research, published by Taylor & Francis
Abstract
This article seeks to examine some of the ways in which social networks may contribute to employment outcomes for community and public housing tenants. There is a body of literature that explores the relationship between social networks and employment outcomes, and a separate literature on the relationship between housing and social networks (which is largely concerned with homeowners). However, there has been little research that links all three aspects, especially in relation to social housing. This provides a starting point for this research, which involved interviews with housing organisation staff and focus groups with tenants in two case study areas in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. This article reports on the findings through examining the way in which housing tenure may affect social network formation, and considering the ways that these networks can impact on job attainment. It is concluded that, overall, those in community housing appeared to fare better, in terms of employment-conducive networks, than those in public housing. This finding is related not just to the management of the housing, but also to the broader issues of stigma, area-level deprivation and intergenerational unemployment.
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Author version made available here in accordance with publisher copyright policy.
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Citation
Ziersch A., Arthurson, K., (2005). Social networks in public and community housing: the impact on employment outcomes, Urban Policy and Research, 23 (4), 429-445.