La vivienda unifamiliar de interés social en el Área Metropolitana de Monterrey [AMM] México y el bienestar social del usuario; la vivienda VITAL

Tradicionalmente la vivienda social en México ha sido analizada de manera cuantitativa principalmente en cuanto al déficit y el rezago, omitiendo la aportación que el uso de esas viviendas ofrece al bienestar de sus ocupantes. Este artículo presenta a la "vivienda VITAL" como propuesta de vivienda unifamiliar con espacio interior dirigido al bienestar de su usuario, con base en una investigación1 cualitativa que incluyó a usuarios de vivienda de interés social ubicados en tres desarrollos habitacionales en el Área Metropolitana de Monterrey, Nuevo León, y a funcionarios públicos dedicados al diseño y ejecución de vivienda social en México. ABSTRACT Traditionally social housing in Mexico has been analyzed quantitatively mainly in regards to deficit and backlog, omitting the contribution that the usage of these houses offers to the welfare of their habitants. This article introduces the "housing VITAL" as a proposal for a single family housing with interior space focused to the welfare of its user, based on a qualitative research that included low income housing users in three housing developments located at the Metropolitan Area of Monterrey, Nuevo León, and public servants dedicated to the design and implementation of social housing in Mexico

Ciudad Verde: una mirada desde el reconocimiento social hasta la diferenciación a través de los espacios

La presente monografía se refiere a la vida cotidiana de los residentes del macroproyecto de vivienda de interés social Cuidad Verde en el municipio de Soacha para comprender las formas de reconocimiento que se tejen entre los residentes, transeúntes y visitantes de la ciudadela. Asimismo, analiza los imaginarios espaciales para entender las relaciones sociales entre unos y otros, abordando al macroproyecto no sólo como un lugar físico sino como un espacio que permite reproducir estereotipos sociales, crear mecanismos de distinción, transformar las maneras de apropiación de la vivienda y tejer nociones de progreso a partir del lugar donde se vive.

Aproximación a los aspectos críticos y de éxito en el hábitat de los macroproyectos de interés social nacional: análisis de factores de satisfacción residencial en ciudad verde, Soacha, 2010-2015

Actualmente, la producción de vivienda de bajo costo representa uno de los grandes retos que afrontan los gobiernos en términos de problemáticas sociales. El sector público, con la inversión del sector privado, desarrolla proyectos de vivienda a gran escala para ofrecer un considerable número de unidades habitacionales en la periferia, que reduzcan las cifras de déficit sin sacrificar los suelos urbanos con alto valor inmobiliario. En esta dinámica de producir en cantidad, cabe preguntarse, ¿La producción de vivienda social considera la calidad ofrecida? ¿Responden las soluciones a las necesidades y expectativas de la población vulnerable? La clave para responder a estos interrogantes reposa en comprender el vínculo entre las características del hábitat ofrecido y la respuesta afectiva que éste provoca en los residentes de un territorio particular; así, la satisfacción residencial se convierte en el método fundamental para lograr la comprensión integral de la calidad en los proyectos de vivienda.

Impact of garment industries on road safety in metropolitan Dhaka

There are about 4,000 garment industries in Bangladesh, most of them are clustered in and around the capital city. Together they account for 75 percent of the country's export earnings and employ around 1.8 million people which is almost one half of the total industrial workforce of the country. Though it is the most important economy sector of Bangladesh, unplanned and haphazardly built garment factories are also inducing many social, housing and most importantly urban transportation problems which are a great cause of concern. This study investigates the impact of garment industries on transportation, in particular road safety issues of garment workers. Data is collected to identify the locational problems of garment factories, spatial distribution of worker residences, and their travel pattern as well as to assess their walking and road crossing problems. Finally, recommendations are put forward to tackle transport problems arising from these unplanned establishments of export oriented garments industries in Dhaka Metropolitan City.

Las sociedades cooperativas de vivienda. Especial referencia al País Vasco

[ES] Son muy diversos los sectores en los que ejercen su actividad las sociedades cooperativas. La sociedad cooperativa de viviendas es una clase específica de dentro de las de consumidores, regulada como una «clase» diferenciada en las leyes, que presenta particularidades que es preciso conocer. Constituyen entidades con un lugar propio dentro del sector inmobiliario con una nada despreciable contribución a la promoción de vivienda. En el País Vasco son en cuantía las más importantes después de las de trabajo asociado. La sociedad cooperativa de viviendas se caracteriza como empresa de participación dentro del sector inmobiliario, en la medida que son los propios usuarios de las viviendas los responsables de la toma de decisiones en la promoción inmobiliaria.

Moradia como Liberdade

A habitação de interesse social decorre da existência do déficit habitacional que não é passível de ser enfrentado pela lógica do mercado imobiliário. Conforme aponta omainstreamda economia regional, a cidade é foco do crescimento mundial devido ao fluxo de informações e conhecimento; é nas cidades que o déficit habitacional se concentra e por isso o acesso a ela se torna tão relevante. O déficit habitacional urbano confirma a teoria de que habitar no centro urbano é algo que se valorize, deste modo o acesso à cidade é significativo para a expansão da liberdade. Não obstante, nossas observações confirmam que a maioria dos investimentos do Minha Casa Minha Vida do município do Rio de Janeiro são nas periferias urbanas, com infraestrutura precária, o que dificulta o acesso à cidade e ao trabalho, o pode ser um entrave para o desenvolvimento socioeconômico do Brasil. Desse modo, este trabalho analisa a moradia pela abordagem seniana das capacidades. Esta abordagem se faz relevante por considerar fatores sociológicos importantes para a superação da condição de privação econômica e social dos cidadãos. A pesquisa consiste na mensuração do déficit habitacional com a utilização dos dados do Censo Demográfico 2010 do IBGE. O trabalho consiste num esforço para delinear a satisfação e do acesso a cidade dos moradores do Rio de Janeiro que foram beneficiados pelo Programa Minha Casa Minha Vida. Este trabalho ressalta a importância do acesso à cidade bem como da moradia para a expansão das liberdades e para o desenvolvimento do país.

An investigation of the utilisation of health impact assessments (HIAs) in Irish public policy making

It is the aim of this thesis to investigate Health Impact Assessment (HIA) use in public policy formulation in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. The influences affecting the use of HIAs will be examined in this study. Four case studies, where HIA has been conducted, will be used for research analysis. This includes HIAs conducted on traffic and transport in Dublin, Traveller accommodation in Donegal, a draft air quality action plan in Belfast and on a social housing regeneration project in Derry. HIA aims to identify possible intended and unintended consequences that a project, policy or programme will have on the affected population’s health. Although it has been acknowledged as a worthwhile tool to inform decision-makers, the extent to which it is used in policy in Ireland is subject to scrutiny. A theoretical framework, drawing from institutionalist, impact assessment and knowledge utilisation theories and schools of literature, underpin this study. The investigation involves an examination of the unit of analysis which consists of the HIA steering groups. These are made up of local authority decision makers, statutory health practitioners and community representatives. The overarching structure and underlying values which are hypothesized as present in each HIA case are investigated in this research. Chapters 2 and 3 outline the main literature in the area which includes theories from the public health and health promotion paradigm, the policy sciences and impact assessment techniques. Chapter 4 describes the methodology in this research which is a multiple case study design. This is followed by an analysis of the cases and then concludes with practical recommendations for HIA in Ireland and theoretical conclusions of the research.

‘Doing’ separation in contemporary Ireland: the experiences of women who separate in midlife

This study explores the experiences of fourteen Irish women who separated in midlife. The rationale for choosing to study this age group of women is because they are the first generation of Irish women to publically separate in midlife in such large numbers. All of them entered marriage at a time when divorce was not possible in Ireland and as such they are broadly without a cultural ‘script’ for how to ‘do’ separation. An exploratory study was conducted to try to capture the processes and events that are part of the lived experiences of separation for women in midlife. In-depth interviews were conducted with fourteen women who were recruited following their attendance at post-separation courses. The participants came from predominantly middle class backgrounds. Narrative interviews were conducted which covered topics such as the attitudes to separation internalised during childhood, the genesis of the marital problems, the events that triggered the separations, the women’s emotional reactions at the time of separating and their social, housing and financial outcomes of having separated. A theoretical framework using concepts related to connectedness and fragmentation was used to analyse the data. Significant diversity was found in the experiences of the interviewees. Most of the women retained connectedness to their children, to their families of origin and to friends who were not joint friends. Significant fragmentation was found in relationships with ex-husbands, with in-laws and with joint friends. All of the women were worse off financially than if they had remained married. They felt socially isolated in the aftermath of separation. Many of the women were struggling to establish positive identities as separated women. While a few of them were very relieved that their marriages had ended, for most, separation was experienced as a painful episode in their lives.

Performance measurement and benchmarking of a major innovation programme

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the problems encountered and the solutions developed when using benchmarking and key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor a major UK social house building innovation (change) programme. The innovation programme sought improvements to both the quality of the house product and the procurement process. Design/methodology/approach: Benchmarking and KPIs were used to quantify performance and in-depth case studies to identify underlying cause and effect relationships within the innovation programme. Findings: The inherent competition between consortium members; the complexity of the relationship between the consortium and its strategic partner; the lack of an authoritative management control structure; and the rapidly changing nature of the UK social housing market all proved problematic to the development of a reliable and robust monitoring system. These problems were overcome by the development of multi-dimensional benchmarking model that balanced the needs and aspirations of the individual organisations with the broader objectives of the consortium. Research limitations/implications: Whilst the research methodology provides insight into the factors that affected the performance of a major innovation programme its findings may not be representative of all projects. Practical implications: The lessons learnt should assist those developing benchmarking models for multi-client consortia. Originality/value: The work reported in this paper describes an inclusive approach to benchmarking in which a multiple client group and their strategic partner sought to work together for shared gain. Very few papers have addressed this issue.

Art and Architecture of Ireland Volume Four:Architecture: 1600-2000

Three Entries: Peacelines; Public Housing in Northern Ireland in the Twentieth Century; Interpretive Centres, NI Peacelines, NI Social Housing

Agitating for a design and regeneration agenda in a postconflict city: the case of Belfast

Introduction

Belfast has been a focus of academic attention for the last forty years with most interest centred on various aspects of ‘the Troubles’. Where there has been interest in the built environment, it has largely been about how the ‘security situation’ impacted directly on architecture and on the design and layout of social housing. This paper seeks to go beyond this to explore how the political- administrative culture of ‘the Troubles’ interacted with ‘normal’ market forces to shape the central area of the city, and to consider the responses of a recently formed activist group, known as the Forum for Alternative Belfast (hereafter referred to as the Forum). The paper is written by three of the directors of the Forum.1 Moreover, the empirical research presented here was undertaken by the Forum as part of a campaign to address issues relating to the design, layout and quality of Belfast’s built environment. In the longstanding tradition of participant observation working within an action-research paradigm, the participants have attempted to offer an account that is evidentially and purposefully selfcritical and reflective. It is of course recognised that while this approach offers many positive attributes, such as phenomenological access through immersion in the project, it also has the potential to bring compromise on research detachment and objectivity.2 To address the latter, the authors have attempted
to avoid polemical argument, and to support claims with primary or secondary research evidence. The authors also acknowledge that action-research has a chequered history; however, they would argue
that their approach is faithful to a concept that sees ‘research’ defined as understanding and ‘action’ defined as seeking change. The Forum’s very purpose is to seek change, but to do this requires evidence, collaboration and demonstration. And in this sense, it is a learning process for all participants, including the research activists, government officials, community organisations and students. The authors also recognise the complexity of factors that affect urban management and change, particularly in a city such as Belfast, which has had to cope with political violence for over thirty years. And they appreciate that in the context of conflict, governance is skewed to cope with political realities. Hamdi reminds us, however, that in practice there is an ‘important dialectic between top-down planning, with its formal and designed laws and structures, and bottom-up selforganizing collectivism—those “quantum and emergent systems” which Jane Jacobs argued long ago give cities their life and order.’3

Public Accountability: a critical approach

'Public Accountability' has been variously described as, for example, Chameleon-like, as everexpanding and as an iconic concept. Public accountability (PA) is a contested but fundamental concept in the structure of contemporary public services. However, much of the existing literature on PA can be seen as reductionist or managerialist. The experiences of public service-users rarely feature and certainly not in the context as a potential agent for change. A second related strand concerns the introduction of New Public Management (NPM) models, and their impact on accountability in the public sector. A central line of argument is that to overcome the reductionist approaches researchers need to place their work in the broad context of these changes. To that end, this paper sets out a critical conceptualisation of 'public accountability', where it is seen as a dynamic social relationship through which civil society seeks to control and challenge the state. This critical PA conceptualisation is then applied to the context of Social Housing in England. The analysis highlights key changes in the structure of accountability relationships, but also stresses the opposition that the reforms have generated. Finally, the conclusion draws links to the debates in the anti-capitalist movement as providing a source of possible research projects.

How the ship of fools was ship-wrecked - The Irish crisis and response

For a decade and half the Irish economy was the poster-boy of Europe. With substantial growth rates, an open economy, flexible labour markets and low levels of taxation, Ireland was seen as evidence of the success of neoliberal policies. Yet in the matter of a few short years Ireland has turned into a one of the peripheral black-holes (along with Greece and Portugal) that are threatening to bring down the whole Eurozone project. Given this context the paper will address two key questions. Firstly how did the much eulogised Celtic Tiger fall so far and so fast? And, secondly, what has been the government’s response to the fall and crash of the Irish economy? These two questions will be addressed through both a general historical analysis of the developments of Irish society up to the crash in 2008 and then the responses to it. Secondly by an analysis of two specific elements of that development; namely the much discussed low corporation tax rate and the failure of social housing to deliver decent affordable homes for those at the bottom of society. The third element is a review of the banking and sovereign debt crisis that led to the IMF/EU deal in November 2010 and a brief outlining of its implications for public finances, especially the question of default. The paper concludes by placing the Irish crisis in a global context.

Climate change adaptation : a decision support framework to encourage environmentally responsible behaviour

Structured Abstract:
Purpose: Very few studies investigate environmentally responsible behaviour (ERB). This paper presents a new 'Awareness Behaviour Intervention Action' (ABIA) Decision Support Framework to sustain ERB.

Design/methodology/approach: Previous ERB programmes have failed to deliver lasting results; they have not appropriately understood and provided systems to address ERB (Costanzo et al., 1986). These programmes were based on assumptions (Moloney et al., 2010), which this paper addresses. The ABIA Framework has been developed through a case study of social housing tenants waiting for low or zero carbon homes.

Findings: The ABIA Framework enables a better understanding of current attitudes to environmental issues and provides support for ERB alongside technological interventions employed to promote and sustain carbon reduction.

Research limitations/implications: The ABIA Framework should be tested on individuals and communities in a variety of socio-economic, political and cultural contexts. This will help unpack how it can impact on the behaviours of individuals and communities including stakeholders.

Practical implications: This type of research and the ABIA Framework developed from it are crucial if the UK pledge to become the first country in the World where all new homes from 2016 are to be zero carbon.

Social implications: The Framework encourages both individual and community discussion and solving of sustainability issues.

Originality/value: There are few, if any, studies that have developed a framework which can be used to support behavioural change for adaptation to sustainable living in low or zero carbon homes.

La crise du logement en Algérie : des politiques d'urbanisme mésadaptées

La crise du logement est généralement appréhendée comme une simple disparité entre une disponibilité de logements abordables et les besoins de la population. Ce mémoire a pour objectif de dépasser ce raisonnement en s’interrogeant sur l’adéquation entre la conception des logements publics et les besoins des populations ciblées, qui sont déterminés par les spécificités socioculturelles en évolutions complexes et dynamiques. Des logements sociaux d’une grandeur inadéquate, pour des considérations de rentabilité, entraînant l’apparition d’une surpopulation, ne pouvaient qu’engendrer leur détérioration rapide et leur bidonvilisation. Ce mémoire aborde donc le thème anthropologique de l’influence de l’organisation de l’habitat et des espaces de vies privées et collectives sur les sociétés humaines. Le cas particulier de l’Algérie est intéressant par sa virulence et par l’importation des politiques françaises au moment de la colonisation, politiques visant l’assimilation des Algériens aux habitudes de consommation et aux modes de comportement occidentaux. Ce mémoire tente de démontrer que les différents gouvernements issus de l’indépendance auront réactivé les politiques coloniales en matière d’urbanisme. De plus, l’augmentation de la fréquence des pratiques informelles de captation à la source des biens stratégiques rares à des fins spéculatives, dont les logements sociaux, accélérée par la libéralisation du marché immobilier et la privatisation des logements publics, a fait en sorte que très peu de logements sociaux furent attribués aux familles qui en avaient besoin qui se retrouvèrent donc de plus en plus marginalisées et devaient à leur tour se tourner vers des pratiques informelles pour espérer améliorer leurs conditions de logement.